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UNIVERSITY  OF 

AT   LOS  ANGELES 


X 


Newt.   (Jiiesham. 

Texas, 

Founder  of  Farmers'  Union. 


TH  E 

Mission,  History  and  Times 

OF  THE 

Farmers'  Union 


A   NARRATIVE   OF  THE    GREATEST    INDUSTRIAL- 
AGRICULTURAL   ORGANIZATION    IN 
HISTORY  AND   ITS 
MAKERS 


By  CHARLES  SIMON  BARRETT 


MARSHALL  &  Bruce  co. 

NASHVILLE,  TENN. 
1909 


Copyrighted,  1909,  by  C.  S.  Barrett 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Title     / 3 

Copyright ' 4 

Dedication    9 

Author's  Preface    11 

Introduction  15 

Greetings  from  John  Temple  Graves 19 

Chapter  1 — The  Reason  21 

Chapter  2 — The  Dyke,  the  Moles,  and  the  Farmers'  Union 29 

Chapter  3 — The  Watcher  on  the  Tower 41 

Chapter  4 — The  Farmer  Must  Go  Into  Politics 45 

Chapter  5 — Cotton,  the  Absolute  Commercial  Despot  of  Civilization — 

Its  Marketing   49 

Chapter  6 — The  American  Farmer,  the  Noblest  Handiwork  of  the 

Creator    53 

Chapter  7 — How  the  Proper  Functions  of  Exchanges  are  Prostituted.  59 

Chapter  8 — Facts  the  Farmer  Must  Learn  78 

Chapter  9 — Education  and  Cooperation   87 

Chapter  10 — Purposes  and  Principles   97 

Chapter  11 — Birth  and  Origin  of  the  Union 103 

Chapter  12 — Growth  and  Development  121 

Chapter  13 — Business  Agent's  Department   147 

Chapter  14 — The  National  Union  157 

Chapter  15 — National   Rallies    170 

Chapter  16 — Brief   History  of   the   Farmers'   Alliance,   the   Wheel, 

the  Grange 178 

Chapter  17 — Personal  Reminiscences  187 

Chapter  18 — Roosevelt  and  the  Commission  on  Country  Life 193 

Chapter  19 — State  Organization,  Texas,  Oklahoma,  Arkansas 195 

Chapter  20 — State  Organization,  Louisiana,  Georgia,  Alabama 210 

Chapter  21 — State  Organization,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  South  Caro- 
lina, Kansas 226 

Chapter  22 — State  Organization,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Colorado,  Wash- 
ington,  Florida,   North   Carolina,   Kentucky,   Iowa, 

Oregon,  Idaho,  Virginia,  California 237 

Chapter  23 — Closing  Chapter  on  State  Organization  253 

Chapter  24 — Biographical  Sketches,  Alabama.  Arkansas 259 

Chapter  25 — Biographical  Sketches,  California,  Colorado,  Florida...  281 

Chapter  26 — Biographical  Sketches,  Georgia  289 

(5) 


4G9641 


6  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Chapter  27 — Biographical     Sketches,     Illinois,     Indiana,     Kansas, 

Kentucky    323 

Chapter  28 — Biographical  Sketches,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Missouri .  334 
Chapter  29 — ^Biographical  Sketches,  North  Carolina,  Nebraska,  New 

Mexico,  Oklahoma   357 

Chapter  30 — Biographical   Sketches,   Oregon,   South  Carolina,  Ten- 
nessee       379 

Chapter  31 — Biographical  Sketches,  Texas,  Wiashington 389 

Chapter  32 — Points  Found  in  the  Furrow  415 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


PROMINENT  MEMBERS  OF  THE  FARMERS'  UNION. 


Newt.  Gresham,  Founder  of  Farmers'  Union  2 

C.  S.  Barrett,  President  Farmers'  Union 8 

R.  F.  Duckworth,  Ex-National  President 10 

R.  H.  McCulloch,  National  Secretary-Treasurer  10 

O.  P.  Pyle,  N.  C.  Murray.  E.  A.  Calvin,  Ex-National  Presidents 14 

Part  of  the  Original  Board  of  Ten 18 

National  Board  of  Directors 20 

State  Officials,  Texas  Division 34 

State  Executive  Committee,  Texas  Division 46 

Prominent  Union  Workers,  Texas  and  Oklahoma  Divisions 54 

Prominent  "Workers,  Texas  Division 58 

State  Officials,  Oklahoma  Division  72 

Prominent  Workers.  Oklahoma  Division    84 

Prominent  Workers,  Oklahoma  Division    92 

State  Officials,  Louisiana  Division  102 

Prominent  Workers,  Louisiana  Division  IK! 

Ex-State  Officials,  Arkansas  Division  VJd 

State  Officials,  Arkansas  Division 132 

Prominent  Workers,  Arkansas  and  Missouri  Divisinns 140 

State  Officials,  Georgia  Division   15G 

State  Executive  Conimittoe,  Georgia  Division  10() 

Prominent  Workers,  Georgia  Division 182 

Prominent  Workers,  Georgia  Division 190 

Attorneys  and  Prominent  Workers,  Georgia  Division  200 

State  Officials,  Alabama  Division 212 

State  Officials,  Alabaina  Division 220 

Stato  Officials,  Tennessee  Division   232 


LIST   OF   IIJ.USTRATIONS.  7 

PAGE 

State  Officials,  Tennessee  Division  244 

Prominent  Workers,  Tennessee  Division  .  .  . '. 254 

State  Ollicials,  Mississippi  Division  2G4 

State  Officials,  Florida  Division  272 

Pi'ominent  Worlcers,  Mississippi  Division  280 

State  Oflicials,  South  Carolina  Division 288 

Ex-State  Offieials,  Soutii  Carolina  Division  29G 

State  Officials,  Illinois  and  Indiana  Divisions  304 

State  Executive  Committee.  Illinois  Division 312 

Prominent  AVorkers,  Kansas  Division  320 

State  Officials,  Florida  Division   328 

State  Executive  Couunittee,  Florida  Division  330 

State  Officials,  Missouri  Division  340 

State  Executive  Committee,  Missouri  Division  344 

State  Oliicials,  Washington  Division 350 

Prominent  Workers,  Washington  Division  358 

State  Officials,  North  Carolina  Division 362 

State  Executive  Connnittee,  North  Carolina  Division  3G8 

Prominent  Workers,  North  Carolina  Division  372 

State  Officials,  Colorado  Division   378 

Prominent  Workers.  Colorado  and  California  Divisions 384 

State  Officials.  Kentucky  Division   392 

State  Executive  Committee,  Kentucky  Division 400 

Farmers'  Union  Editors  40G 

Editors  and  Ex-Editors   " 412 


C.  S.  Mahiiiott,  Georgia,  President  Karmers'  Union. 


DEDICATION. 


WHATEVER  service  I  may  have  been  to  the  Farmers'  Edu- 
cational and  Cooperative  Union  of  America  is  due  to  God 
Ahnighty  and  one  woman.  If  He  gave  me  the  willing 
mind  and  the  firm  hand,  from  her  has  come  the  courage  to  prop- 
erly direct  that  mind ;  the  clean,  never-tiring  inspiration  to  support 
the  strength  of  that  hand  through  many  tasks  that  sometimes 
seemed  to  my  timid  spirit  to  loom  as  mountains  that  were  past  my 
feeble  skill.  When  weary  and  disheartened,  I  have  found  in  her  an 
ever-present  comfort  and  a  renewed  hold  on  hope.  In  success,  she 
has  been  the  sweetening  and  leavening  influence.  In  failure,  she 
has  been  the  eager  sharer  of  the  burden,  and  in  the  quiet  love  of 
her  eyes  and  the  calm  magic  of  her  voice  I  have  seen  the  prophecy 
of  the  light  yet  to  dawn  in  the  East.  Two  of  the  freshest  and 
most  fertile  years  in  her  life  were  joyfully  sacrificed  to  furnish 
the  means  to  sustain  me  in  this  great  mission  for  the  farmer  of 
America.  For  the  last  five  years,  the  following  of  duty  has  meant 
nine-tenths  of  the  time  spent  away  from  her,  leaving  problems  of 
daily  happening  to  be  solved  by  her  in  loneliness.  She  has  been 
heaven's  perfect  gift  to  the  man  who  finds  it  in  his  heart  to  oflfer 
his  services  to  his  fellows.  To  the  wife  of  my  bosom,  the  mother 
of  my  children,  I  dedicate  this  volume  in  reverence  and  thanks- 
giving. 


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AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


THERE  should  be  a  strong  reason  for  every  book  that  offers 
itself  for  public  patronage.  My  justification,  therefore,  for 
puttinii"  into  the  form  of  permanency  the  history  and  times 
of  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Cooperative  Union  is  the  obey- 
ing of  an  impulse  to  set  forth  for  our  day  and  for  posterity  the 
essential  events  and  the  distinguishing  mission  of  this  organiza- 
tion, the  greatest  of  its  kind  in  history. 

The  fate  of  humanity  and  the  rapidity  of  progress  have  been 
determined  by  many  critical  developments  in  past  centuries.  Since 
the  beginning  of  creation  men  have  been  continually,  if  somewhat 
blindly,  working  toward  a  more  perfect  conception  of  liberty ;  a 
finer  adjustment  of  rights  and  privileges,  so  that  no  one  class  or 
clique  should  profit  at  the  expense  of  another ;  so  that  opportunity 
should  be  equalized,  and  each  man's  title  to  happiness  made  to 
rest  solely  upon  his  own  merits. 

The  JNIagna  Charta  of  the  English  barons  is  an  illustration  of 
the  peculiar  crisis  of  which  I  am  speaking.  That  historic  docu- 
ment sought  to  chain  kings  down  to  an  equitable  interpretation  of 
the  rights  of  the  average  man.  and  to  assure,  at  least,  a  degree  of 
justice  in  government. 

The  French  revolution  wrote  the  salient  meaning  of  magna 
charter  in  letters  of  blood  and  fire.  It  emphasized  tragically  that 
the  man  in  the  ranks  had  determined  upon  sharing  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  own  affairs ;  it  gave  aristocracy  and  the  right  of  the 
few  to  drive  and  fatten  from  the  many,  a  death-blow  ;  it  dealt  a 
fatal  stroke  at  class  distinctions  and  special  privileges,  so  far  as 
concerns  outward  appearances. 

Our  own  declaration  of  independence  was  a  far  step  in  that 
direction.  Were  it  and  the  constitution  construed  literally  today, 
America  would  not  now  be  afiflicted  with  any  of  the  gigantic- 
monopolies  or  the  special  privileges  that  unjustly  and  injuriously 
concentrate  our  industrial  and  financial  pow-er. 

The  Farmers'  Educational  and  Cooperative  I'nion  may  be  said 
to  have  all  the  significance,  without  the  violence,  of  magna  charter, 
of  the  French  revolution  and  of  the  declaration  of  independence. 


12  author's  preface. 

It  is  the  protest  of  the  man  and  the  woman  in  the  field,  the  man 
and  the  woman  into  whose  hands  God  on  high  has  given  the  task 
of  feeding  and  clothing  his  children,  against  the  uneven  distribu- 
tion of  opportunities  and  privileges,  that  full,  broad  sweep  of 
''life,  liberty  and  pursuit  of  happiness"  guaranteed  by  the  federal 
constitution. 

It  seeks,  in  its  way,  to  efifect  a  revolution,  but  one  in  which 
there  is  to  be  no  thundering  of  cannon,  no  slaughter  of  thousands, 
no  devastation  of  smiling  acres. 

Other  movements  have  aimed  at  similar  ends,  but  fallen  palsied 
by  the  wayside.  This  movement  has  given  evidence  of  its  strength 
and  its  ability  to  endure.  Its  present  outlook  is  bordered  in  the 
horizon  of  no  man's  mind. 

And  these  are  the  motives  that  have  led  me  to  write  the  history 
and  the  personal  narratives  that  follow  these  pages.  They  should 
be  of  interest  to  men  and  women  and  children  throughout 
America,  for  they  contain  the  story  of  the  fight  of  a  brave  people, 
a  fight  that  I  am  convinced  is  destined  to  be  finally  set  down  as  a 
successful  one. 

The  first  few  chapters  are  written  with  a  view  to  summarizing 
Union  principles  and  problems  as  they  interest  the  farmer  gen- 
erally. What  seems  repetition  in  subsequent  chapters  is  an  efifort 
to  impress  the  application  of  these  principles  upon  purely  Union 
members. 

Readers  who  are  tempted  to  complain  of  the  incompleteness  of 
this  volume,  should  remember  that  it  is  impossible  to  compress  all 
of  the  even  more  important  events  of  so  large  a  theme  into  the 
covers  of  one  book.  Additional  volumes  may  be  forthcoming. 
Meanwhile,  I  can  conscientiously  say  that  the  larger  canvass  of  the 
subject  has  been  sketched  in  the  present  volume. 

In  this  history  the  true  story  of  the  Farmers'  Union  is  told. 
Praise  has  been  given  where  due,  and  censure  where  the  occasion 
demanded.  No  effort  has  been  made  to  disguise  or  conceal  any 
of  the  facts,  as  the  writer  felt  that  the  whole  truth  ought  to  be  told. 

The  author  knows  personally  nearly  every  official  of  every 
State  Union;  knows  every  incident  connected  with  the  \vork; 
knows  about  all  the  rows,  the  strife,  the  dissensions;  knows  it 
personally,  knows  it  from  experience,  for  he  had  to  settle  each  of 
them ;  knows  all  the  facts  of  the  conventions,  for  he  has  been 
present  at  nearly  every  State  and  all  National  meetings.  The 
incidents  here  recorded  are  not  second  hand,  but  from  actual 
knowledge.  Other  writers  of  histories  have  had  to  depend  largely 
upon  data  gathered  from  reliable  sources,  but,  as  they  declared  in 


AUTHORS    PREFACE.  1  li 

their  prefaces,  it  was  given  to  them  by  others.  Not  so  with  the 
data  of  this  book.  It  is  a  recital  of  events  and  incidents  that  oc- 
curred within  the  range  of  the  personal  knowledge  of  the  writer. 

The  history  of  the  Farmers'  Union  is  sent  out  to  the  world  with 
the  hope  that  it  may  fill  a  need  and  reflect  honor  upon  the  organ- 
ization. C.  S.  Barrett. 

Union  City,  Ga.,  March  lo,  1909. 


J  — 


INTRODUCTION 


ONE  of  tlie  peculiarities  of  the  agricultural  situation  of  all 
the  countries  is  the  lack  of  unity  among  the  farmers.  It 
is  almost  impossible  to  organize  them.  The  reason  for  this 
is  found  in  the  nature  of  farm  life  itself.  Agriculture  tends  to 
develop  individuality.  In  mechanical  pursuits,  and  in  other  in- 
dustries incident  to  the  city  life,  men  are  inclined  to  move  in 
groups.  The  host  of  urban  workers  march  in  companies  and 
battalions.  Therefore,  organization  is  easy.  But  each  farm  is 
a  separate  kingdom,  however  small.  Each  farmer  develops  self- 
reliance,  and  glories  in  being  his  own  boss. 

When  the  farmers  enter  the  army,  they  are  the  soldiers  who 
find  military  discipline  the  most  intolerable.  But,  for  instance,  the 
army  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  was  notorious  for  the  spirit  of 
individual  independence  manifested  by  the  troops  of  the  rank  and 
file.  There  was  a  certain  point  beyond  which  the  officers  found  it 
impossible  to  enforce  strict  discipline.  The  explanation  of  this  is 
that  the  men  who  wore  the  gray  came,  to  a  very  large  extent, 
from  the  farms.  The  Northern  army,  drawn  largely  from  the  big 
cities,  was  much  more  amenable  to  discipline. 

When  a  labor  leader,  like  Powderly,  or  Mitchell,  or  Gompers, 
starts  out  to  form  Unions  among  the  workmen  of  cities,  they  find 
conditions  favorable.  City  laborers  are  predisposed  to  organiza- 
tion. They  naturally  incline  to  move  the  mass,  rather  than  the 
detail.  Consequently,  the  only  trouble  in  the  case  is  that  of  choos- 
ing leaders,  and  that  of  watching  the  grafter,  the  boodler,  the 
traitor,  in  order  that  the  Union  may  not  be  used  for  some  purpose 
other  than  that  for  which  it  is  organized. 

But  when  a  farmer  takes  up  the  task  of  organizing  the  farmers, 
he  quickly  realizes  that  he  has  tackled  a  job  equal  to  the  twelve 
labors  of  Hercules ;  I  don't  mean  one  of  the  twelve  labors  of 
Hercules ;  /  Jiiean  the  whole  twelve. 

First  of  all,  each  farmer  is  so  set  in  his  own  way,  so  full  of 
self-reliance  and  a  sense  of  manly  independence  that  he  hates  like 
blazes  to  make  the  least  surrender  for  the  good  of  his  class.  He 
has  always  bought  as  he  pleased  (or  thinks  so,  at  least),  and  sold 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

as  he  pleased,  and  planted  what  he  pleased,  and  bossed  himself 
generally.  Therefore,  he  cannot  bear  the  idea  of  bending  his 
stiff  neck  to  the  yoke  of  any  organization  which  will,  in  the  least, 
interfere  with  that  glorious  independence  of  his. 

Apparently,  he  would  rather  go  to  industrial  Hades,  if  per- 
mitted to  take  his  own  time  and  methods  in  doing  so,  than  to  be 
led  into  the  Promised  Land  of  Prosperity  by  a  Moses  who  may 
find  it  necessary  to  substitute  the  will  of  the  class  for  that  of  the 
individual. 

Then,  again,  the  farmer  who  seeks  to  organize  the  farmers  is 
met  by  dismal  references  to  ancient  history.  The  "Grange"  didn't 
do  what  was  expected  of  it ;  the  "Wheel"  did  not  keep  rolling ;  the 
"Farmers'  Alliance"  went  to  pieces,  and  so  forth  and  so  on.  Very 
often  these  dismal  references  to  ancient  history  are  sufficient  to 
restrain  the  farmers  of  an  entire  country  from  "picking  the  flint 
and  trying  it  again." 

Yet  it  should  not  be  so.  The  Grange  was  a  surface  affair,  and 
the  Wheel  merged  in  the  Alliance,  and  the  .Alliance  was  the  grand- 
est educational  movement  that  has  stirred  the  masses  since  the 
Civil  War. 

It  had  a  noble  influence  in  bringing  the  Blue  and  the  Gray  to- 
gether ;  in  bridging,  if  not  filling,  the  bloody  chasm ;  in  breaking 
the  bonds  of  political  serfdom;  in  teaching  the  people  how  the 
laws  affect  their  material  interests ;  in  stimulating  them  to  read, 
to  discuss  economic  questions,  and  to  exercise  their  own  inde- 
pendent judgment  in  the  matter  of  voting. 

The  Farmers'  Alliance  gave  a  tremendous  impulse  to  reform 
in  affairs  of  the  State,  and  it  created  a  public  opinion  which  has 
had  a  beneficial  influence  throughout  the  country.  Its  mistake 
was  that,  as  an  organisation,  it  endorsed  candidates  for  office. 
This  not  only  tended  to  disrupt  the  lodges,  but  afforded  the  leaders 
such  golden  opportunities  for  "selling  out"  to  ambitious  candi- 
dates that  they  could  not  resist  the  temptation. 

It  is  a  subject  for  national  rejoicing  that  the  farmers  are  coming 
together  again  in  a  class  organization  of  their  own.  Heaven 
knows,  it  is  time.  A  flock  of  sheep,  girdled  by  ravenous  wolves, 
would  not  be  in  a  much  worse  fix  than  are  the  farmers  of  our  land, 
surrounded  by  the  predatory  trusts.  A  naked  swimmer,  trying 
to  make  shore  through  a  swarm  of  man-eating  sharks  would  have 
just  about  as  good  a  chance  for  his  life  as  a  Southern  cotton 
grower  has  to  prosper  under  present  conditions.  It  appalls  me 
when  I  think  of  the  indifference  of  the  farmer;  it  enrages  me 
when  I  contemplate  the  deviltry  of  the  system  which  robs  him. 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

I  am  glad  that  President  Charles  S.  Barrett  has  prepared  a 
history  of  "The  Farmers'  Educational  and  Cooperative  Union  of 
America."  Such  a  book  is  timely,  and  is  bound  to  do  good.  May 
it  strengthen  the  faith  of  every  member  of  the  order;  and  may 
the  order  itself  grow  and  develop  until  the  combined  strength  of 
the  farmers  will  be  brought  to  bear  upon  our  lawmakers  to  the 
end  tiiat  agriculture  shall  not  be  burdened  with  the  support  of 
other  industries.  Thos.  E.  Watson. 

Thomson,  Ga.,  November  i8,  1908. 


I'AiM    <)i     iiii;  1  lUicixAi.   I'.iiAiti)  ui"  ■ri:N. 

1.  W.  S.  SiSK,  Texas. 

2.  Dn.  Li:io  .Si:.\ArsTi:u,  Texas,  First  I'ri'siik'iU  of  l"arinci-s'  I'liion. 

3.  T.  J.  I'oUNn,  Texas.  4.  Jesse  Ad.vms,  Toxas. 


GREETINGS    FROM   JOHN   TEMPLE 
GRAVES. 


1 


^  I^O  THE  Farmers'  Union  History:  I  reco.^nize  and  hail  the 
elaboration  of  your  records,  achievements,  and  aspirations 
into  history,  with  unusual  pleasure. 

I  was  one  of  the  first  public  men  in  Georgia  to  give  my  heartiest 
indorsement  to  the  Farmers'  Union.  At  a  time  when  your  great 
organization  was  looked  upon  with  skepticistn,  and,  by  many  who 
did  not  understand  its  purpose,  openly  flouted  and  discredited,  I 
recognized  the  superb  and  unbreakable  foundations  upon  which 
it  was  builded,  and  gave  it  my  faith  and  fellowship  from  the  first. 

I  rejoice,  therefore,  as  a  pioneer,  in  the  wonderful  work  it  has 
done — in  its  wisdom,  in  its  loyalty,  in  its  silence,  in  its  strength, 
in  its  unblemished  honor,  and  in  its  unquestioned  patriotism. 

If  it  can  only  keep  the  faith  of  its  fathers,  who  are  themselves 
all  young.  If  it  can  preserve  unbroken  the  methods  and  the 
manners  of  its  brief  and  eventful  years,  its  glory  will  be  written — 
surely — in  the  years  to  come. 

The  mighty  forces  of  the  soil  have  never  1)een  so  masterfully 
organized  and  so  masterfully  led.  For  this  reason  they  have  never 
wrought  so  large  a  work  of  development,  and  have  never  fronted 
so  marvelous  a  mission  of  usefulness  as  they  do  today. 

*  May  God  keep  the  great  organization  straight,  simple-mannered 
and  sincere ;  may  the  demagogue  and  the  speculator  never  creep 
like  wolves  into  the  sheep-fold  of  the  faithful. 

For  myself,  wanting  nothing,  asking  nothing,  hoping  nothing 
but  the  welfare  of  the  country,  and  of  the  people,  F  hold  it  a 
privilege  to  add  my  fervent  God-speed  to  the  stately  marches  of 
this  beneficent  l^nion  of  the  farmers  of  America. 

John  Temple  Graves. 

New  York,  March  lo,  1909. 

(19) 


NATIONAL    BOARD    OF    DIRECTORS. 

1.  W.  A.  Monitis,  Alabama.  3.  W.  T.  Ix>udeumilk,  Te.xas. 

2.  S.  L.  WiLSO.v,  Mississippi.  4.  T.  M    Jeffords,  Oklahoma. 

5.   I.  N.  McCOLi-i.STEu,  Louisiana. 


CHAPTER  I, 


THE  REASON. 


ORGANIZATION,  its  present  and  genesis,  is  written  in- 
delibly throughout  the  works  of  nature  in  the  handwriting 
of  the  Almighty.  It  is  evident  in  the  rushing  torrent  that 
converts  water  into  electricity.  It  is  evident  in  the  tempest,  that 
takes  toll  of  life,  and  may  obliterate  the  progress  of  ages.  Benign 
and  malign  forces  of  ordered  concentration  are  obvious  in  the 
smallest  and  largest  detail  of  the  heavens  and  that  which  lies 
beneath. 

Mankind  has  borrowed  this  wisdom  from  Omnipotence.  Be- 
ginning with  his  first  assembling  in  masses,  used  in  his  first  con- 
scious acts  of  originating,  he  has  applied  the  lesson  learned  in  the 
schoolroom  of  God. 

The  Farmers'  Educational  and  Cooperative  Union  is  now  com- 
mencing to  appreciate  the  appealing  wisdom  of  this  agency.  It 
remained  for  the  great  and  oppressive  trusts,  as  well  as  the  tre- 
mendous corporations  that  now  make  industrial  distribution  easy, 
to  blaze  the  trail  which  the  farmer  has  literally  been  forced  to 
follow. 

Before  the  farmer  organized  he  was  at  the  mere}"  of  every  pass- 
ing swindler  who  chose  to  coin  his  credulity  into  currency.  He 
was  easy  prey  for  the  vulture  that  had  made  up  its  mind  to  live 
and  prosper  and  expand  at  the  expense  of  society.  He  was  also 
fatally  handicapped  in  the  hourly  prosecution  of  the  plainest  sort 
of  business.  He  was  gulled  by  his  merchant.  The  men  from 
whom  he  bought  clothing  and  supplies  had  the  benefit  of  his  lack 
of  skill  and  knowledge  of  common  business  principles. 

The  inequality  showed  itself  most  dramatically  in  matters  of 
quasi-public  and  legislative  nature.  Years  after  mechanical  labor 
had  fortified  itself  with  unionism,  thereby  forcing  recognition  of 
its  just  demands  from  capital  and  the  public,  the  farmer  was  high 
and  dry  in  his  unorganized  isolation.  His  efiforts,  being  scattered, 
were  futile.  His  strength,  being  single,  was  wasted.  He  might 
possess,  individually,  the  courage,  the  persistence,  and  the  ability 

(-1) 


22  MISSION^    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

essential  to  the  gaining  of  his  ends.  All  these  virtues  were  actu- 
ally no  more  effective  than  the  trickling  mountain  streams  before 
they  are  merged  into  the  onrushing  and  resistless  torrent. 

The  first  few  movements  for  the  organization  of  rural  interests 
were  ineffectual.  They  had  to  deal  primarily  with  that  prejudice, 
distrust  and  ignorance  that  was  the  farmer's  legacy  because  of 
the  loneliness  of  ages.  Thirty  years  ago  the  man  behind  the  plow 
viewed  every  stranger  who  approached  him  with  stolid  misgiving. 
He  was,  to  use  the  vernacular,  every  day,  Sunday  and  feast  days, 
"from  Missouri."  He  had  to  be  shown.  He  regarded  the  person 
whom  he  did  not  know  intimately  as  his  natural  enemy.  He  re- 
buffed the  individual  not  certified  by  years  of  acquaintance  as  a 
possible  imposter.  Like  the  child  who  has  been  badly  scorched 
not  once  but  many  times,  he  dreaded  the  fire.  Moreover,  the 
word  itself,  "fire,"  was  obnoxious  to  him  as  applied  to  things  out- 
side a  regular  and  a  very  narrow  horizon. 

Records  of  the  first  fugitive  attempts  in  distant  times  to  beat 
down  these  tremendous  inimical  forces  are  not  available.  They 
may  have  been  projected  by  men  of  the  most  approved  motives 
and  the  purest  integrity;  on  the  other  hand  they  may  not  have 
been.  They  may  have  been  a  characteristic  plot  of  the  schemer  to 
play  upon  the  cupidity  and  narrowness  of  the  farmer  for  his  own 
advantage.  At  any  rate,  judging  from  my  personal  experience 
these  latter  years,  whoever  was  the  pioneer  in  farmers'  coopera- 
tive work,  had  a  road  to  travel  beside  which  that  famous  boule- 
vard of  Jordan  was  smooth  macadam. 

The  passing  and  the  present  generations  are  tolerably  familiar 
with  the  story  of  the  Alliance,  the  Grange,  and  the  Wheel.  Each 
is  detailed  elsewhere.  The  Alliance  and  the  Wheel  are  virtually 
dead.  The  Grange  still  flourishes,  but  under  conditions  that  are 
radically  amended  from  those  which  witnessed  its  inception. 

There  are  most  logical  causes  for  the  flagging  and  the  failure 
and  the  halting  of  these  worthy  crusades.  The  reasons  given  in 
the  foregoing  paragraphs  would  largely  account  for  their  degen- 
eration. The  influences  outlined  fully  in  subsequent  chapters 
shed  additional  light  on  their  collapse.  Politics,  selfishness,  den- 
sity, jealousy,  distrust,  were  as  so  many  lithe  fingers  pressing  the 
breath  from  the  throats  of  these  well-planned  enterprisers.  We 
had  to  deal  with  them,  and  with  a  multitude  of  other  factors, 
when  we  first  contemplated  the  formation  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 
The  time  was  rij)c  for  the  enlistment  of  the  agriculturist  in  the 
army  that  would  make  effectual  his  rights  and  his  privileges. 
Abuses  and  oppression  bore  upon  him   froin  every  point  of  the 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  23 

industrial,  political,  and  commercial  compass.  He  was  asleep, 
so  far  as  his  own  vast  power  was  concerned.  He  was  dumb  when 
it  came  to  the  moment  to  express  his  grievances.  He  was  blind 
when  it  came  to  penetrating  artifices  and  subterfuges  which  held 
him  fast  in  bondage,  and  which  firmly  fettered  the  progress  of 
himself,  his  wife,  and  his  children,  reaching  forth  a  bony  and 
devastating  touch  into  the  future. 

It  was  facing  this  unpromising  combination  that  we  launched 
the  present  order. 

Wildfire  has  a  reputation  for  marvelous  spread.  Disease  can 
become  epidemic  in  a  community  within  twenty-four  hours  after 
the  first  case  has  been  reported.  Lightning  illumines  the  entire 
firmament  in  the  fractional  part  of  a  second. 

The  catching  on  and  the  growth  of  the  Farmers'  Union  is  a 
recital  that  in  wonderful  swiftness  and  impelling  force  outdoes 
these  metaphors.  The  man  of  God's  broad  acres  was  groaning 
under  a  burden.  He  was  at  woeful  disadvantage  with  capital  and 
mechanical  labor.  He  was  sustaining  the  burning  and  the  wither- 
ing fire  of  commercial  conflict,  the  modern  bloodless  warfare, 
which  is  no  less  ferocious  and  murderous  because  there  are  no 
printed  rosters  of  slain  and  wounded.  Thus  it  was  that  our  gospel 
of  organization  fell  upon  fallow  ground.  The  hand  of  Newt. 
Gresham  rubbed  the  Genii  lamp  of  loyalty  and  of  energy  that  was 
dynamic.  An  Aladdin  army  of  militant  men,  men  who  in  their 
deadly  concentration  of  purpose  would  not  be  denied,  came  into 
almost  instant  existence. 

Like  Jonah's  gourd,  the  order  has  magnified  into  overshadow- 
ing proportions  since  its  inauguration.  I  can  imagine  the  eager- 
ness with  which  men,  flocked  to  the  standards  of  the  ancient 
crusaders,  would  have  wrested  the  tomb  of  our  Lord  from  Sara- 
cen infidels.  That  same  flashing  quickness  of  response,  that 
same  tender  consecration,  that  same  grim-visaged  resolution  char- 
acterized the  purposes  in  the  first  few  steps  of  our  organization. 
We  avoided  the  errors  of  those  who  had  gone  before  us.  We 
placed  qualifications  amidship  so  discriminately  as  to  minimize 
the  number  of  foes  from  within.  Search  the  details  related  else- 
where, and  you  will  see  that  the  personnel  of  the  order  does  not 
include  the  harpies  of  history.  We  also  arranged  dues  and  the 
prorating  of  dues  in  the  most  democratic  manner  possible.  Oc- 
casions arise,  of  course,  where  unusual  emergencies  dictate,  that 
measures  must  be  taken  for  which  you  will  not  find  provision 
made  in  the  organic  law  of  the  Association.     Normallv,  however. 


24  MISSION.   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

the  presiding  and  administrative  officials  are  clothed  with  authority 
sufficient  to  justly  and  effectively  discharge  their  functions. 

No  farmer  is  too  poor,  too  obscure,  to  be  a  member  of  the 
Union.  No  farmer  is  too  rich,  too  powerful  to  enlist  himself  in 
our  campaign.  But  poor  and  rich,  high  and  low,  prominent  and 
obscure,  frail  and  powerful,  the  members  are  on  a  scrupulously 
equal  footing,  ^^^ealth  and  station  give  an  applicant  no  undue 
handicap  over  him  whose  lines  are  cast  in  humble  places.  Both 
must  conform  to  regulations  and  requirements.  Both  must  give 
unreservedly  of  faith  and  zeal.  Both  must  foreswear  connections 
and  alliances  that  would  embarrass  their  duty  to  the  Union  or 
that  would  antagonize  their  giving  freely  of  brain,  intelligence, 
and  conscience.  The  wealthy  traitor  or  fraud  is  not  screened  or 
condoned  one  moment  longer  than  the  pauper  who  would  sell  his 
brethren  for  the  Scriptural  thirty  pieces  of  silver.  No  man,  how- 
evei  farspreading  and  persuasive  his  influence,  can  betray  the 
Union  more  than  once.  We  have  no  maudlin,  or  melodramatic, 
or  lawbreaking  penalties  such  as  those  ostensibly  enforced  by  the 
Kentucky  night-riders,  and  by  the  way,  the  slander  that  has  de- 
liberately sought  to  connect  the  Union  with  this  outrageous  form 
of  lawlessness,  is  based  on  lies  that  become  the  more  damnable 
as  they  grow  more  apparent. 

I  have  realized,  ever  since  my  first  connection  with  this  work, 
that  if  it  was  to  succeed  with  permanence,  it  must  appeal  to  and 
chime  with  the  statutes  both  of  God  and  of  man.  The  temporary 
success  that  might  easily  have  been  built  up  on  intimidation  and 
violence  would  have  wrought  sure  and  blasting  destruction  in  the' 
last  analysis.  Our  paths  have  been  those  of  peace,  though  an 
armed  and  an  intelligent  peace.  They  will  continue  to  be  framed 
in  logic  and  serenity. 

Shortsighted  critics  have  charged  with  ridicule  that  we  have 
not  accomplished  that  which  we  set  out  to  achieve.  The  indict- 
ment is  qualifiedly  true.  It  would  be  unnatural  were  it  not.  It 
took  the  English  people  some  hundreds  of  years  to  get  to  Magna 
Charta.  Centuries  of  king  craft,  atrocity,  and  justice  parodied 
were  required  to  light  the  powder  train  for  the  French  Revolu- 
tion. The  pioneers  of  America  withstood  the  most  exhausting 
and  exasperating  tyranny  from  the  Mother  Country  for  more 
than  one  hundred  years  before  they  gathered  the  resolve  and  the 
courage  to  battle  for  independence.  Even  now  they  have  gone 
but  a  short  distance  along  the  road  to  their  ideal  destiny.  No 
intelligent  man  believes  that  the  standards  in   the  minds  of  our 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  25 

forefathers  have  been  even  remotely  materialized  in  their  State 
and  Federal  governments. 

Since  then  that  progress  which  is  revolutionary  and  mighty  in 
its  sweep,  is  tortuously  slow,  the  unbiased  observer  can  only  ex- 
perience amazement  unqualified  at  the  steps  we  have  attained 
toward  our  ultimate  goal.  We  have  clashed  with  those  most  stub- 
born foes  of  construction  and  reform — prejudice,  ignorance,  in- 
tolerance— within  and  without  the  walls  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 
We  have  sustained  their  determined  assaults  not  for  just  one 
moment,  one  hour,  one  day,  one  year,  or  ten  years.  But  we  have 
met  them,  fierce,  determined,  and  resourceful  every  waking  and 
sleeping  second  since  our  organization.  Thousands  upon  thou- 
sands of  the  most  cunning,  crafty,  and  plausible  people  in  this 
country  have  seen  their  easy  prosperity  threatened  by  the  onward 
sweep  of  this  order.  They  have  opposed  it  openly  and  covertly 
before  legislatures,  at  our  conventions,  before  Congress,  in  the 
very  secret  executive  sessions  of  our  local  meetings.  They  have 
opposed  it  with  wile,  bribe,  with  the  effusiveness  of  alleged  friend- 
ship and  the  bulldog  tenacity  of  outright  animosity.  They  have 
been  ready,  if  I  may  be  allowed  an  extreme  phrase,  almost  to 
mortgage  their  souls  to  perdition,  if  thereby  they  might  strangle 
our  purposes  before  they  have  gained  strength  to  stand  on  their 
own  support. 

That  these  desperate  and  systematic  attempts  have  failed  is  due 
to  the  vigilance,  purity,  and  incorruptibility  of  the  men  who  have 
been  associated  with  the  move.  I  will  acknowledge  that  the 
fight  has  been  a  hard  one.  Traitor  after  traitor  has  been  exposed 
and  expelled.  The  mask  has  been  torn  froin  lying  faces  of  alleged 
friend  after  friend.  Politicians,  publicists  in  high  places,  have 
been  brought  low,  caught  in  the  act  of  infamy  toward  men  whom 
they  had  cunningly  cajoled  into  elevating  them  into  power.  I  do 
not  say  that  the  purging  is  as  yet  complete.  I  would  not  be  sur- 
prised if  tomorrow  some  man  or  men  to  whom  your  eyes  now 
turn  in  unquestioning  confidence  and  esteem,  shall  not  be  retired 
to  harmless  obscurity  for  some  active  or  premeditated  villainy. 
Remember  that  we  have  a  floating  membership  nearly  always 
aggregating  three  million  members.  In  this  stupendous  host  it  is 
inevitable  that  there  should  be  some  rottenness  here  and  there. 
Take  any  one  of  the  great  religious  denominations  and  you  will 
find  the  same  condition.  Until  man  takes  on  immortality,  and  his 
thoughts  as  well  as  his  features  follow  the  delineaments  of  his 
Maker,  there  will  always  be  weakness  and  error  and  susceptibility. 


26  MISSION,   HISTORY  AXD  TIMES 

I  have  here  outlined  at  some  length  the  general  principles  of 
the  Farmers'  Union.  Of  our  fundamental  aims  most  men  are 
aware.  The  title  itself,  both  educational  and  cooperative,  is  a 
clue  to  the  salient  designs  of  the  order.  Our  tirst  thought,  whether 
planning  campaigns,  in  the  daily  monotonous  grind,  in  victory, 
defeat,  with  the  young  man,  with  the  old  man,  is  education.  Nor 
do  I  mean  merely  academic  education.  Our  teaching  is  not  re- 
stricted to  text-books.  We  realize  more  keenly  than  any  of  our 
self-constituted  guardians,  the  primal  necessity  of  scientific  train- 
ing and  instruction.  We  know  that  the  farmer  has  fallen  leagues 
behind  the  other  professions  because  he  did  not  realize  these  facts ; 
because  he  contented  himself  with  following  blindly  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  ancestors.  We  revere  our  forefathers.  We  will  never 
forget  the  debt  of  gratitude  which  we  owe  their  braver>' ;  the 
intellect  and  the  inheritance  of  pure  ideals  which  they  handed 
down  to  us.  But  we  recognize  that  if  we  would  complv  with  the 
unavoidable  test  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  we  must  improve 
upon  their  methods  even  as  they  improved  upon  the  methods  of 
their  forbears. 

The  appreciation  of  these  conditions  means  that  we  are  en- 
thusiastic advocates  of  ample,  inclusive,  generous  education.  It 
means  that  we  make  the  text-book  go  hand  in  hand  with  experi- 
ment and  with  demonstration ;  it  means  that  we  are  alive  to  the 
unwritten  possibilities  of  the  soil ;  it  means  that  we  expect  to  coin 
those  possibilities  into  assets  with  persistent,  untiring,  and  broad- 
visioned  education. 

We  have  accomplished  much,  too,  toward  the  compassing  of 
these  ends.  Our  influence  is  seen  in  primary,  secondary,  and 
agricultural  colleges  in  many  of  the  Southern  States.  We  do  not 
confine  our  propaganda  to  the  schoolroom.  Every  local  meeting 
considers  educational  subjects,  and  the  oldest  and  the  youngest 
member  is  not  only  encouraged  to  express  himself  with  regard  to 
his  individual  experience,  but  he  is  also  given  to  understand  that 
indifiference  to  it  spells  stagnation  and  financial  loss.  Each  State 
organization  is  well  supplied  with  lecturers,  men  of  tested  ability, 
who  canvass  every  county  once  and  sometimes  thrice  a  year  with 
agricultural  topics  as  their  theme.  Experience  meetings  are  ad- 
vised and  encouraged.  Suggestions  are  welcomed  at  State  and 
National  headquarters.  Ever  and  always  the  endeavor  is  to  make 
each  member  feel  a  proprietary  interest  in  the  organization. 

The  cooperative  feature  is  made  to  minister  to  our  aims  in 
equal  measure  with  its  educational  twin.  Whenever  two  or  three 
or  two  or  three  hundred  or  two  or  three  thousand  of  our  members 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  27 

are  gathered  together,  the  pith  of  the  idea  of  cooperation  is  strik- 
ingly impressed  upon  them.  They  are  told  again  and  again  the 
story  of  the  man  and  his  sons  and  the  sticks.  You  will  remember 
that  that  man,  according  to  Aesop,  I  think,  had  seven  violent, 
disagreeable,  and  inharmonious  sons.  They  were  perpetually 
pulling  at  cross  purposes.  Nothing  they  did  came  to  a  successful 
issue.  The  wise  old  father  saw  their  days  ending  in  pov- 
erty. He  called  them  together,  gave  them  a  fatherly  talk  as 
I  have  dozens  of  times  given  to  our  members,  and  prophesied 
their  finish  unless  they  amended  their  ways.  He  then  took  up 
seven  sticks.  One  by  one  he  broke  them  easily  over  his  knee.  He 
then  brought  forth  seven  more,  and  tied  them  securely  in  one 
bundle ;  the  combined  force  of  himself  and  his  sons  did  not  avail 
to  rend  apart  that  reinforced  pillow  of  endurance  and  strength. 
They  caught  the  significance  in  a  twinkling.  I  assume  the  cur- 
rent of  their  lives  was  completely  turned  about.  At  least  I  hope 
so,  for  similar  endeavors  have  actuated  my  policy  toward  quar- 
reling, warring,  and  cantankerous  members  of  the  Union. 

Elsewhere  the  reader  will  find  details  of  the  conspicuous  co- 
operative movement  of  the  order,  I  consider  that  they  prophesy 
merely  the  beginnings  of  our  mission. 

Here  I  have  tried  to  set  forth,  with  as  much  plainness  and 
simplicity  as  the  subject  allowed,  the  reason  underlying  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Farmers'  Union.  The  great,  basic  purposes  running 
like  giant  arteries  through  its  structure.  I  maintain  that  the  need 
for  this  organization  is  today  more  compelling,  more  obvious  and 
wider  spread  than  ever  in  its  history.  I  maintain  that  for  the 
old  foes  we  have  conquered,  a  dozen  new  ones  have  sprung  up, 
more  vigorous,  more  alert,  more  determined,  and  with  larger 
empire  for  their  efforts  than  in  the  worst  of  the  old  days.  I 
maintain  that  we  have  but  merely  fired  the  opening  gun ;  that 
the  mightiest,  the  most  decisive,  and  the  most  destructive  battles 
are  yet  to  be  waged.  I  maintain  that  the  salvation,  financial, 
moral,  and  industrial,  of  the  farmer  of  this  country  is  indissolubly 
bound  up  with  the  fate  of  the  Farmers'  Union.  I  maintain  that 
the  lessening  of  our  energy,  a  decrease  in  our  ranks,  the  depleting 
of  our  resolute  concentration,  open  the  gap  to  a  score  of  corpo- 
rate, political,  and  industrial  enemies,  w'ith  the  hunger  and  blood- 
lust  of  the  ravening  wolf.  I  maintain  that,  at  bottom,  the  best 
and  most  substantial  of  this  country  are  warm  in  their  sympathy 
with  us,  but  that  we  must  justify  their  faith,  and  reward  their 
support  with  steadfastness  and  fidelity  to  them  and  to  ourselves. 


28  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

The  men,  the  women,  and  the  children  for  whose  welfare  today 
and  tomorrow  the  infinite  travail  of  this  labor  has  been  under- 
taken, are  the  clothiers,  the  feeders,  the  last  hope  of  the  American 
nation.  Upon  their  cleanliness  of  motive  and  quickness  of  mind, 
their  loftiness  of  soul,  hinges  the  dimensions  of  our  destiny. 
Their  degradation  means  the  failure  of  America,  the  failure  to 
realize  to  the  uttermost  those  sublime  principles  that  make  this 
countrv  the  haven  for  the  desolate  and  the  oppressed  of  all  lands 
at  all  times.  From  their  roughness,  their  rude  power,  their  genius 
for  undaunted  endurance,  comes  the  strength  of  those  overwhelm- 
ing impulses  that  set  America  as  upon  a  mountain  top  in  civiliza- 
tion. 


OF    THE    FARMERS     UNION. 


CHAPTER  IL 


THE  DYKE,  THE  MOLES,  AND  THE  FARMERS'  UNION. 

THE  old  Father  of  Waters,  the  Mississippi  River,  typifies 
the  strength,  the  relentlessness,  and  the  evil  of  human  life 
and  of  human  activity.  Rising  in  the  little  obscure  lake, 
Itaska,  in  the  northern  wilderness,  it  trickles  down  prairie  levels 
and  mountain  hill  sides  until  it  gains  a  sweep  that  will  not  be 
gainsaid,  a  force  that  has  never  been  estimated,  and  a  dignity 
that  is  a  vast  word  in  the  awful  sublimity  of  nature.  It  bears  on 
its  rolling  breast  the  fleets  of  commerce  and  the  hobbling  craft  of 
pleasure.  It  slips  past  towns  that  merely  dot  the  desert,  and 
towns  that  send  interrogation  points  of  an  hundred  spires  toward 
bending  skies.  On  its  vast  expanse  have  occurred  the  many 
tragedies  and  the  many  comedies,  the  many  farces  and  the  many 
heroisms  that  make  life  endurable. 

Its  power  for  good  and  for  evil  are  limitless.  In  times  gone  by 
it  has  risen  up  in  its  might  and  blotted  out  cities  as  a  magician 
crushes  the  flimsy  articles  of  his  own  creation.  Men  loved  it,  but 
they  grow  also  to  fear  it.  They  learned  to  distrust  it.  They  knew 
it  could  woo,  could  fondle,  could  caress  with  the  tenderness  of  a 
lover ;  and  it  could  ravage,  slay,  and  annihilate  with  the  ruthless- 
ness  of  a  demon  incarnate.  After  it  had  laid  claim  to  lives  in- 
numerable, and  property  beyond  estimate,  they  sought  to  set  a 
bound  to  its  capacity  for  mischief. 

They  built  up  dykes,  levee  is  the  argot  for  it,  so  that  when 
floods  descended  and  rain  deluged,  the  river  would  not  forget  its 
staid  and  beautiful  duties  for  the  frivolities  of  a  murderous  frolic. 

These  dykes  arc  broad  and  high.  Men  could  ride  abreast  on 
them  or  pitch  their  tents  upon  their  generous  surface.  They  are 
strong  and  durable.  They  are  made  to  resist  violence.  They  are 
created  to  anticipate  the  unexpected.  Unless  a  river  that  they 
enclose  develops  unwonted  determination,  they  will  hold  its  powers 
for  good  and  for  deviltry  fast  in  leash. 

We  have  built  up  dykes  around  the  Farmers'  Union.  They 
also  are  firm  and  broad.    They  also  are  meant  to  restrict  its  pur- 


30  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

poses  and  concentrate  its  aims  into  a  definite  and  preconceived 
channel.  They  are  meant  to  withstand  siege;  when  floods  come 
thev  are  fashioned  for  resistance.  When  rains  beat  they  stand 
sturdy  and  unyielding.  They  do  not  budge  one  inch  from  impact, 
whether  great  or  feeble. 

They  keep  the  current  of  the  life  of  this  organization  clear  and 
swift  and  direct,  escorting  it  over  obstacles  that  line  the  pathway 
and  giving  it  impetus. 

There  are  foes  within  and  without  these  dykes  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. They  may  be  the  greedy  and  searching  teeth  of  the  current 
itself.  They  may  be  homesteaders  on  the  land  side,  cultivating 
the  acres  so  carelessly  as  to  undermine  the  levee. 

But  in  the  vast  majority  of  cases  they  are  little  insidious,  bur- 
rowing moles,  hardly  visible  to  the  naked  eye.  These  moles,  all 
unknown  to  the  watchers  or  at  least  to  those  unskilled  in  their 
ways,  are  perpetually  gnawing  holes  and  pathways,  and  remov- 
ing dirt  which  may  ultimately  cause  the  entire  mighty  substance 
to  crumble  and  let  in  the  disastrous  flood. 

There  are  moles  within  and  without  the  dykes  of  the  Farmers' 
Union.  Now  our  motive  understood,  at  the  outset,  that  our 
ranks  contain  some  of  the  noblest  and  purest  hearted  and  ablest 
men  in  the  country.  They  also  contain  some  of  the  grandest, 
shrewdest,  and  most  consummate  villains  who  have  managed  to 
escape  the  penitentiary.  For  one  hundred  of  our  members  who 
do  not  know  the  meaning  of  a  lie,  there  is  at  least  one  who  could 
give  the  devil  cards  and  spades  and  beat  him  hand  running. 
They  have  Ananias  hopelesslv  distanced.  They  make  Machiavelli, 
whose  sinister  motto  was  "that  the  end  justifies  the  means,"  seem 
like  a  cooing  babe.  One  reason  they  are  not  today  wearing  ball, 
chain,  and  stripes  is  that  they  can  run  just  a  little  faster  than  the 
detective  and  the  sheriff. 

They  are  the  moles  within  the  organization,  and  they  have  able 
and  willing  assistants  on  the  outside,  who  are  not  only  mole-like 
in  their  nature  and  operations,  but  oftentimes  resemble  as  well 
the  jackal  and  the  lion.  Some  of  them  are  politicians,  running  the 
gamut  from  governors,  governors-elect,  senators,  representatives, 
and  heads  of  governmental  departments,  to  candidates  for  dog- 
catcher.  A  good  many  of  them,  the  majority  perhaps,  are  schem- 
ing Inisiness  men.  You  might  call  them  the  modern  pirates  of 
commerce.  They  are  as  cruel,  a  great  deal  more  cunning,  I  will 
admit  braver,  and  equally  as  resourceful  as  the  black-bearded 
gentry  under  ITawke  and  Kidd,  who  terrorized  the  seas  for  so 
many  years.     In  one  respect  tlic\-  recall  the  lilies  of  the  field.     Tf 


OF  THE  farmers'  union.  31 

they  can  arrange  it  that  way,  they  care  not  to  toil  or  spin.  But 
you  may  make  up  your  mind  that  tlie  gladness  of  their  raiment 
and  the  oiliness  of  their  faces  ])ut  to  blush  the  late  lamented 
Solomon.  They  have  made  up  their  minds,  these  men,  that  the 
"suckers"  are  to  pay  the  freight.  They  are  anxious  and  able  to 
move  the  heavens  above,  the  earth  beneath,  and  the  waters  under 
the  earth  to  compass  this  and  other  ends.  They  do  not  balk  at 
perjury.  Falsification  they  have  made  into  a  fine  art.  Dishonesty 
they  believe  to  be  the  best  policy.  And  as  far  as  brains  are  con- 
cerned, they  can  command  in  their  own  presence,  or  through  their 
purses,  the  ablest  talent  in  the  nation. 

The  Farmers'  Union  is  unquestionably  the  most  fertile  and 
promising  field  in  the  country  for  these  classes  of  vultures.  I 
have  stated  in  the  opening  chapter  that  our  people,  when  properly 
approached,  arc  the  most  fatally  confiding  customers  in  creation. 
Also  we  have  never  quite  recovered  from  that  verdant  trait  that 
causes  a  few  of  us  to  buy  gold  bricks  or  to  blow  out  the  gas. 
The  farmer,  above  all  men,  loves  a  glib  tongue,  a  hearty  hand- 
clasp, and  a  solicitous  inquiry  about  the  health  of  hiniself,  Maria, 
and  the  boys.  More  politicians  have  won  high  station  by  kissing 
babies  that  were  not  strong  enough  to  ofifer  resistance  than 
through  any  other  means.  You  have  often  seen  the  vote-grabber 
who  makes  it  his  business  to  know  the  name  of  every  man,  woman, 
child,  and  their  twenty-third  cousin  in  his  district.  When  he 
meets  one  of  them  he  has  at  the  tip  of  his  tongue  some  little 
pertinent  question  regarding  their  personal  affairs.  He  looks 
into  the  eyes  of  his  victim  with  that  moisty  gaze  and  that  sunny 
smile  that  would  ripen  peaches  at  the  north  pole — and  you  can 
bet  \x>uv  last  red  cent  that  Bill  or  John  or  Henry  is  that  man's 
friend  and  supporter  to  the  end  of  his  natural  days. 

If  these  comparatively  harmless  methods  are  efifective  in  every- 
day politics,  just  imagine  them  applied  with  multiplied  force  to 
dealings  with  our  members.  The  politician  with  any  right  to  that 
title,  realizes  the  numerical  strength  of  the  Union  in  every  State 
and  locality.  He  knows  quite  well  that  its  vote  may  hold  the 
balance  of  power  in  a  close  election.  Therefore,  it  is  up  to  him 
to  cultivate  the  Farmers'  Union.  He  does  it;  I  was  tempted  to 
say,  he  does  them.     It  frequently  amounts  to  that  in  the  long  run. 

A  candidate  for  office  may  not  know  more  than  one  or  two 
men  in  a  given  district,  and  what  I  have  said  and  am  saying  ap- 
plies to  farmers  generally  as  well  as  to  members  of  our  order. 
If  this  gentleman  in  search  of  a  job  know^s  that  there  is  to  be  a 
gathering:  of  anv   number  of  farmers   in   anv  c-iven  cross-roads 


32  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Store  or  town  or  village,  he  makes  it  his  business  to  be  "Johi^^Y" 
on-the-spot."  He  has  never  tried  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  the 
honest,  productive,  quiet,  and  matter-of-fact  men  in  the  commu- 
nity. His  purpose  has  been  accomiplished  when  he  knows  the 
weaknesses  and  the  susceptibilities  of  the  men  sharp  enough  and 
flannel-mouthed  enough  to  lead  their  neighbors  around  by  the 
nose.  So  he  confers  with  his  keen-witted  and  obliging  friends 
just  before  the  meeting  is  called  to  order.  He  finds  out,  not  the 
good,  the  progressive,  or  the  highest  hopes  and  ambitions  of  those 
on  whom  he  is  about  to  descend  with  the  fury  of  a  tornado,  but 
he  does  find  out  just  what  will  appeal  to  their  hatreds,  what  will 
inflame  their  prejudices,  and  w^iat  will  bend  their  passions  into 
a  current  making  for  his  own  selfish  ends.  And  he  utilizes  his 
knowledge,  however  acquired,  to  the  limit.  Artfully  he  harangues 
the  mob,  with  guileful  skill  he  plays  on  their  worst  emotions  as 
deftly  as  the  musician  who  calls  into  throbbing  response  every 
cord  of  the  harp. 

He  hypnotizes  them  into  believing  that  they  are  the  most 
abused,  the  most  pillaged,  the  most  put-upon  men  in  history.  He 
magnifies  some  little  two-by-four  local  issue  into  a  question  of 
life  and  death.  When  they  have  been  under  his  counterfeit  elo- 
quence for  a  few  minutes  they  are  prepared  to  believe  that  he  is 
the  one  and  only  Moses  who  can  lead  them  out  of  the  wilderness. 
He  tells  them  that  they  are  the  backbone  of  the  country.  He 
never  refers  to  the  fact  that  the  backbone  sometimes  develops 
curvature  of  the  spine.  He  never  warns  them  kindly  and  with 
the  best  intention  that  some  of  the  vertebrae  may  be  rotten  or 
misplaced.  O  no.  They  are  the  salt  of  the  earth.  They  and  the 
king  can  do  no  wrong,  and  he  won't  let  the  "goblins  git  them" 
if  they  will  just  make  him  head  chicken  thief  or  any  other  exalted 
officer  which  he  may  outline. 

And  yet  people  wonder,  and  the  press  ignorantly  raves  at  the 
conquest  of  the  demagogue.  They  rebuke  the  credulous  farmer 
who  so  easily  falls  into  his  clutches.  They  rant  about  hypocrisy ; 
they  clamor  for  sanity,  justice,  and  conservatism.  They  never 
once  realize  that  as  long  as  the  status  of  sentiment  continues  at  its 
present  level,  that  the  political  Ananias  and  the  commercial  dema- 
gogue will  have  things  all  his  own  way  with  the  masses  of  the 
farmers.  We  are  improving.  We  are  gradually  learning  to  dis- 
tinguish wolves  when  thev  come  in  sheep's  clothing.  Day  by  day 
we  are  gaining  greater  ability  to  discern  the  braying  ass  under 
the  skin  of  the  lion.  And  yet  we  are  finding,  from  the  most 
bitter  and  galling  of  experiences,  that  promises  are  not  always 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  33 

made  in  good  faith,  and  that  frequently  they  are  but  the  bait  with 
which  to  catch  fools.  Niagara  Falls  did  not  happen  in  a  day. 
The  French  Revolution  was.  not  compassed  over  night.  Time 
and  then  time  again.  Patience  and  endurance  intensified,  educa- 
tion and  the  habit  of  keeping  our  eyes  open  will  be  the  heralds 
for  our  eventual  deliverance.  Perhaps  the  day  will  not  dawn  on 
us ;  but  as  surely  as  smoke  rises,  and  as  mankind  never  'remains 
stationary,  we  can  anticipate  the  moment  when  the  demagogue, 
the  schemer,  and  the  traitor  will  cease  his  conjuror's  villainy. 

These  are  some  of  the  types  with  whom  the  responsible  offi- 
cials of  the  Union,  myself  included,  have  had  to  do  hourly  and 
daily  battle  since  the  very  beginning.  We  have  grown  old  enough 
and  wise  enough  to  have  them  labeled.  We  are  acquainted  with 
their  habits.  We  know  where  next  they  will  bob  up.  We  know 
almost  to  a  syllable  the  arguments  they  will  use.  We  know  just 
exactly  what  ends  they  are  striving  to  gain.  We  know,  too,  how 
they  will  retard  progress,  what  miserably  inferior  servants  they 
will  make,  and  how  they  will  hamstring  ambitions  and  develop- 
ment of  our  own  members.  When  they  apply  for  membership, 
you  can  believe  that  we  urge  them  to  pass  on.  If  they  become 
active  outside  the  ranks,  there  is  always  some  one  of  our  leaders 
capable  of  keeping  the  eyes  of  the  bpys  open.  Of  course,  we  cannot 
altogether  prevent  their  deadly  work.  Our  members  are  not  all 
angels,  or  even  of  unusual  intelligence,  and  some  of  them  claim 
the  right  to  play  the  fool  in  their  own  way.  The  point  I  particu- 
larly wanted  to  stress  was  the  everlasting  strain  it  is  on  the  execu- 
tive officials  to  safeguard  the  members  from  these  cormorants. 

Speaking  of  cormorants  leads  me  to  the  sort  of  moles,  jackals, 
and  near  lions  who  assail  the  Farmers'  Union  from  without,  that 
will  have  to  be  watched  and  shadowed  much  more  persistently 
than  even  Mr.  Roosevelt's  prized  gum  shoes.  It  may  be  that 
these  sharks  have  something  that  they  want  to  sell  that  is  below 
par,  that  is  in  itself  worthless,  or  that  can  be  bought  at  any 
country  grocery  for  half  the  price.  They  have  the  effrontery, 
often  as  not,  to  seek  our  endorsement,  and  I  have  even  known 
some  of  them  to  forge  my  name  or  to  knowingly  misconstrue  a 
harmless  pleasantry  into  an  advertisement  of  their  cheap  wares. 

Another  brand  of  schemers  more  daring,  more  expert,  more 
damnable  and  wealthier,  are  those  who  plot  and  manipulate  either 
to  affect  the  size  of  our  crops,  or  to  beat  down  the  market  prices 
for  them.  I  have  known  them  to  send  smooth-tongued  scoundrels 
into  every  State  in  which  we  were  organized,  preaching  dissen- 
sion, and  straining  heaven  and  earth  to  nullify  the  advice  from 
3 


34 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


STATE   OFFICIALS,   TEXAS   DIVISION. 

1.  D.  J.  Ni;iLL,  State  President.  3.  J.  V.  Lane.  Ylcc  rrcsldciil. 

2.  Joe  E.  Edmonson,  State  Organizer.  4.  C.  Smith,  State  Secretary-Troa-iuror. 

5.  ToJt  P..  TAYLon,  A!;slstant  State  Lecturer. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  35 

headquarters.  I  have  known  them,  both  from  abroad  and  living 
in  the  very  town  and  county  of  their  operations,  to  bring  pressure 
to  Ijear  on  individual  merchants  to  withhold  credit  from  certain 
farmers,  to  foreclose  mortgages  in  specific  directions,  if  thereby 
they  might  work  on  a  temporarily  embarassed  farmer  and  make 
just  a  little  inroad  upon  the  organization. 

They  do  not  confine  themselves  even  to  this  species  of  hell's 
play.  If,  perchance,  the  crops  and  the  farmer  have  survived  their 
machinations,  operations  are  transferred  to  the  press  and  dailies, 
weeklies  and  the  regular  magazines-  are  flooded  with  advertise- 
ments, sometimes  illustrated,  and  always  worded  with  the  most 
devilish  ingenuity,  arguing  that  the  crop  is  either  a  "bumper" 
or  that  some  w^eather  condition  will  affect  it  so  as  to  lower  pos- 
sible prices.  Their  finest  work  is  done,  and  their  heavy  artillery 
comes  inlo  action  when  they  see  that  fortune  and  organization 
have  fought  on  the  side  of  the  farmer,  and  that  he  is  going  to 
conquer,  nolens  volens.  Then  it  is  that  they  begin  a  campaign  in 
which  they  strive  by  every  conceivable  artifice  to  make  producers 
hurry  their  commodities  to  the  market.  It  is  immaterial  to  them 
if  such  action  precipitates  a  congestion  that  will  knock  the  bottom 
out  of  prices.  It  is  immaterial  to  them  if  they  are  fooling  the 
farmer  into  selling  for  about  one-third  what  he  would  get  by 
holding. 

The  farmer  they  view  as  their  natural  enemy,  a  fatally  easy 
enemy,  and  they  are  after  his  scalp  regardless. 

If  these  foes  from  the  outside  were  all  we  had  to  contend  with, 
the  problem  of  keeping  the  dykes  firm  would  be  relatively  a 
simple  one,  but  they  are  merely  the  beginning,  the  branded  an- 
tagonist whom  wc  learn  to  know  and  combat  after  a  while.  The 
more  dangerous,  the  more  contemptible,  the  more  difficult  of  dis- 
lodgement  are  the  foes  who  masquerade  in  the  guise  of  loyal 
friends,  and  who  solemnly  take  oath  of  membership  with  the  firm 
intention  to  violate  it  if  their  interest  is  thereby  served.  I  am 
loathe  to  state  that  there  are  traitors  in  the  Farmers'  Union,  but 
since  what  I  am  writing  is  history,  and  since  the  first  ingredient 
of  history  is  truth,  and  since  truth  does  not  contemplate  disguis- 
ing the  odor  of  the  skunk,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  speak  plainly  as 
in  the  house  of  brothers. 

If  you  go  into  any  convention  of  bankers,  or  manufacturers, 
or  any  variety  of  business  men,  you  will  find  the  most  perfect 
cooperation,  once  a  given  plan  has  been  adopted.  There  may  be 
all  sorts  of  dissension,  debate,  and  acrimonious  bickering  before 
a   certain  subiect  is  thoroughlv  threshed   out.     But  when  everv 


36  MISSION;,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

man  present,  down  to  the  humblest  delegate,  has  had  his  say,  and 
when  the  collective  wisdom  of  the  assembly  has  decided  on  a 
given  course,  I  challenge  you  to  find  many  instances  wherein  the 
members  do  not  abide  by  the  policy  thus  fixed.  Such  men  are, 
of  course,  as  full  of  self-interest  as  any  number  of  farmers  can 
possibly  be.  It  is  undoubted,  too,  that  they  each  have  their  pet 
theories  regarding  business  progress  and  methods,  but  they  have 
long  ago  arrived  at  the  knowledge,  for  which  they  do  and  have 
■to  pay  a  heavy  price,  that  nothing  whatever  worth  while  can  be 
accomplished  save  by  united  -endeavor  and  self-effacing  harmony. 

Compare  this  well-ordered  march  of  events  to  the  procedure 
which  rules  farmers'  organizations.  You  will  at  once  detect  a 
radical  difference.  To  begin  with,  the  farmer  is  not  an  adept  in 
business  of  any  sort.  As  I  have  intimated  already,  centuries  of 
isolation  and  oppression  have  warped  his  commercial  instincts 
and  narrowed  his  mental  horizon.  In  the  second  place,  he  has 
not  the  genius  for  cooperation  possessed  by  the  business  man. 
He  has  yet  to  realize,  and  he  must  be  made  to  realize  by  knock 
down  and  drag  out  lessons,  its  indispensable  necessity.  You  can 
get  farmers  in  any  convention,  and  in  any  numbers  to  agree  to 
the  most  impossible  and  impracticable  schemes.  Their  imagina- 
tions and  perhaps  their  avarice,  a  trait  which  they  have  in  common 
with  the  remainder  of  the  race,  run  away  with  them.  On  the 
other  hand,  you  may  interest  them  in  a  perfectly  worthy  plan, 
one  which  promises  well  to  their  moral  and  material  interests, 
and  which  they  have  seen  successfully  tried  in  their  own  experi- 
ences. They  may  determine  most  enthusiastically  to  adopt  and 
prosecute  such  a  plan.  If  they  carry  out  their  intention  and  their 
pledges  it  is  because  their  leaders  are  constantly  behind  them 
with  the  reminders. 

These  statements  are  no  libel  upon  our  members  or  farmers 
generally.  I  freely  offer  to  retract  them  if  any  man  will  logically 
point  out  to  me  that  they  are  not  a  faithful  reflection  of  one  of 
the  most  damaging  traits  of  our  people. 

The  vulture  from  without,  I  should  like  to  call  him  a  buzzard, 
works  his  way  by  schemes  that  are  many  and  underground.  His 
motive  invariably  is  either  self-interest  or  revenge.  It  may  be 
that  he  has  on  hand  some  carefully  nourished  design  which  is 
framed  to  prey  on  his  fellow  members.  It  may  be  that  he  is  the 
disguised  ally  of  trusts,  of  cotton  exchanges,  or  other  antagon- 
istic interests,  who  have  charged  him  with  the  mission  of  break- 
ing up  the  organization  from  within.  One  of  the  most  frequent 
incentives  of  the  traitor  is  personal  vindictiveness.     I  have  met 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  37 

any  number  of  this  class  in  my  individual  experience;  I  meet 
others  every  day. 

It  happens  that  occasionally  I  find  incompetent  or  dishonest  or 
scheming  officials  in  high  places.  It  is  then  my  sworn  duty  to 
degrade  them  from  the  elect  into  mere  membership  or  to  call  for 
their  expulsion,  according  to  the  gravity  of  the  ofTense.  Such 
men  are  of  course  only  human.  A  few  of  them  take  the  repri- 
mand sensibly,  and  seek  to  amend  their  indolence  or  their  evil 
ways.  The  majority  of  them  are  turned  into  venomous  dislikers 
of  myself,  and  feudists  against  the  life  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 
They  do  not  hesitate  at  any  step  to  achieve  my  embarrassment  or 
to  put  a  block  in  the  wheel  of  the  order. 

This  vermin  does  not  dare  attack  the  principles  or  purposes  of 
the  Farmers'  Union.  They  are  entirely  too  sharp  for  that.  But 
they  slip  around  after  night  through  back  alleys  and  sow  poison- 
■ous  doubts  regarding  the  honesty  and  integrity  of  the  officials. 

They  will  declare  that  such  and  such  a  man  is  receiving  too 
much.  They  will  keep  tally  with  the  fees  paid  into  certain  locals, 
and  of  the  appropriations  made  for  such  purposes,  and  then  in- 
sinuate to  all  who  will  listen  to  them  that  the  money  has  not  been 
properly  accounted  for  by  those  in  authority. 

They  are  also  always  loaded  to  the  brim  with  doleful  tales  of 
failures  of  similar  organizations;  with  unfounded  statements 
that  the  Farmers'  Union  is  following  a  course  of  like  peril.  Every 
contemptible  little  knock ;  every  tiny  flame  of  dissatisfaction ; 
every  personal  divergence  they  seek  to  increase  and  magnify  into 
threatening  disruption.  If  they  know  a  man  who  has  a  personal 
grievance  against  an  important  or  a  small  officer,  they  take  great 
pains  to  make  him  believe  that  his  grievance  is  even  more  just 
than  he  has  already  imagined.  At  every  turn  they  sow  distrust 
in  officials  and  disbelief  in  the  ability  of  the  Union  itself.  No 
man,  however  pure  and  consecrated,  is  safe  from  their  calumnies. 
No  point  is  too  small  or  too  trivial  to  be  ignored  by  their  serpen- 
tine venom. 

I  could  call  by  name  Satan's  roster  of  these  traitors  and  little 
pee  wee  plotters,  and  I  assure  you  that  if  I  did  a  howl  of  sur- 
prise would  go  up  from  one  end  of  the  Union  to  the  other.  But 
I  long  ago  made  up  my  mind  that  until  a  man's  animosity 
flagrantly  jeopardized  the  order  itself,  I  would  not  permit  private 
pique  to  dictate  my  actions. 

Time  after  time,  in  open  meetings,  in  the  presence  of  the 
most  prominent  men  in  the  Union,  I  have  challenged,  I  have 
pleaded  with  men  who  might  find  fault  with  my  policies  or  with 


409641 


38  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

the  policies  for  the  direction  of  which  I  am  responsible,  to  rise 
up,  state  their  cases,  and  produce  their  evidence. 

Never  yet,  not  one  time,  in  my  experience,  has  this  challenge 
ever  been  accepted.  Yet  the  work  of  burrowing,  of  back-biting, 
and  of  ruinous  slander  does  not  cease.  I  am  telling  you  these 
facts  in  plain  frankness,  not  because  they  are  extremely  frequent, 
but  because  I  am  convinced  you  should  know  the  conditions  with 
which  any  organization  of  this  nature  must  contend. 

Another  favorite  device  of  these  sons  of  Belial  is  to  attack 
from  ambush  the  "soft  snaps"  and  "fat  cinches"  of  the  officials. 
They  very  skillfully  appeal  to  the  intelligence  and  the  conceit  of 
members.  They  will  say,  "Why  just  look  at  that  fellow!  He  is 
not  any  smarter  than  you  are,  and  yet  you  pay  him  $5.00  a  day, 
the  idea,  $5.00  a  day !  Why  you  sweat  in  the  sun  and  shiver  in 
the  cold  and  rise  at  the  crack  of  day,  and  you  do  not  make  nearly 
that  much.  Why  should  he  not  be  satisfied  to  work  for  what  you. 
do  if  he  has  the  welfare  of  the  Union  so  closely  at  heart?" 

If  I  could  write  this  paragraph  in  embossed  and  raised  letters 
of  fire,  I  could  not  drive  this  point  far  enough  home  with  the 
members  of  the  Farmers'  Union.  Brethren,  it  takes  money  to 
buy  brains  now-a-days.  They  are  the  rarest  and  most  expensive 
commodity  on  the  market.  Brains  are  what  make  a  success  of 
the  trusts,  of  politicians,  and  of  every  factor  that  has  ground 
down  the  farmer  through  history,  including  kings  and  swindlers. 
We  have  as  brainy  men  in  our  ranks  as  any  body  of  equal  pro- 
portions. We  can  find  leaders  able  enough  to  fight  our  battles 
and  to  fence  with  the  most  subtle  of  enemies  if  we  are  willing  to 
pay  them  the  price. 

Which  is  the  rarer :  the  talent  of  the  faithful  soldier,  or  the 
talent  of  the  able  commander?  There  was  but  one  Napoleon. 
There  was  but  one  Caesar.  There  was  but  one  George  Washing- 
ton. There  was  but  one  Robert  E.  Lee.  There  was  but  one 
Newt.  Gresham. 

There  is  in  every  age  about  one  man  capable  of  conceiving  and 
of  executing,  to  one  hundred  thousand  men  capable  of  carrying 
out  his  spreading  designs.  You  have  got  to  cuddle  these  truths 
in  your  heart  of  hearts  if  you  expect  to  make  a  lasting  success  of 
this  or  any  other  farmers'  organization.  The  fact  that  you  are 
slow  to  believe  them  is  one  factor  that  has  militated  most  strongly 
against  progress  in  the  past. 

Another  ominously  weak  point  in  the  character  of  the  farmer, 
one  which  is  to  this  day  causing  us  individuals  trouble  in  our 
plans  for  advancement,  is  that  of  personal  fricndsliip.     When  we 


OF   THE    FARMERS^    UNION.  39 

propose  to  merge  a  system  of  warehouses,  or  to  form  a  central 
committee,  or  to  fight  immigration,  or  to  encourage  the  consump- 
tion of  additional  cotton,  or  to  cut  down  the  acreage,  we  need,  of 
course,  quaUfied  men  and  committees  to  discharge  these  important 
functions.  In  every  instance  I  am  besieged  to  appoint  men  not 
on  the  basis  of  intellectual  or  business  qualifications,  but  most 
frequently  on  that  of  rank  favoritism.  Because  Bill  Jones  is  a 
good  fellow,  a  good  hand-shaker,  a  cheerful  smiler,  he  should  be 
the  head  of  such  and  such  a  committee,  or  he  should  be  provided 
some  kind  of  soft  berth.  Because  Tom  Jenkins,  or  Tom  anybody 
else,  may  have  promised  to  use  his  influence  to  vote  for  Mr.  A, 
Mr.  B,  or  j\Ir.  C,  for  coroner  or  flea  catcher,  I  am  importuned  to 
boost  him  to  a  certain  position. 

It  rarely  occurs  to  our  people  that  business  men  and  business 
organizations  achieve  success  by  choosing  their  workmen  on 
merit  alone.  Until  we  adopt  that  system  we  must  expect  to  have 
the  work  of  companies  and  of  committees  either  undone  or  ob- 
structed by  incompetent  or  by  designing  schemers. 

Another  mania  that  aftlicts  the  farmer  is  the  brain-storm  of 
"Ideality."  Unless  every  dog  track  in  a  certain  county  or  certain 
State  has  "representation"  on  certain  boards,  many  of  our  friends 
are  ready  to  predict  all  sorts  of  dire  failure  or  to  cultivate  a  first- 
class  case  of  ingrowing  sulks.  I  maintain,  and  I  always  have 
maintained,  that  with  representation  the  ability  to  flatter  and  jolly 
have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  requirements  for  service. 
Always  and  ever  it  is  merit,  merit,  merit. 

You  will  have  seen  by  this  time  my  reason  in  heading  the 
chapter  as  I  did.  I  have  attempted  to  show  the  broad,  sweeping 
purposes  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  the  dykes  that  hold  the  current 
fast  to  its  task,  and  that  must  be  made  to  resist  the  burrowers 
inside  and  out.  One  other  fact  is  worthy  of  consideration  by  the 
humblest  memljer  who  hopes  to  be  of  use  in  our  great  future.  It 
concerns  leadership.  I  am  firmly  of  the  opinion  that  while  this 
organization  has  a  tren^endous  destinv.  that  it  also  will  have  its 
martyrs.  As  long-  as  farmers  refuse  to  realize  the  importance  of 
adequately  compensating  their  commanders,  large  and  small,  and 
as  long  as  they  continue  to  bicker  among  themselves  and  to  invite 
bickerings  from  without,  the  men  at  the  head  will  catch  showers 
of  dynamite  from  every  point  of  the  compass.  Ten  years  from 
now  this  organization  will,  if  we  guard  our  fences  (and  pick  our 
leaders  intelligently),  be  even  more  emphatically  than  now  the 
most  powerful  in  all  history;  but  there  will  be  a  long  list  of  pre- 
maturely dead  men  in  its  wake.     Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of 


40  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

your  progress.  The  leaders  who  would  serve  you  conscientiously 
must  never  sleep.  Every  faculty  must  be  alert,  each  moment  they 
are  serving-.  They  must  be  prepared  for  attacks  which  they  can 
anticipate,  and  for  attacks  which  they  cannot  anticipate.  The 
duties  of  leadership  are  sufficient  to  craze  the  strongest  mind. 
Never  in  history  has  there  been  a  gathering  so  unwieldy  in  num- 
bers and  so  diverse  in  membership  as  this  one.  The  task  of 
guiding  it  and  of  meeting  each  separate  emergency  has  developed 
a  class  of  leadership  unique  in  civilization.  There  are  plenty  of 
men  who  can  command  soldiers,  sailors,  clerks,  and  policemen.  I 
know  of  very  few  that  can  command  farmers,  and  I  look  for 
those  few  to  die  several  years  before  their  time. 

When  they  do  shuffle  off  this  mortal  coil,  there  may  be  several 
persons  who  will  appreciate  what  they  have  done  and  what  they 
have  overcome,  but  the  vast  majority  will  themselves  go  to  their 
own  graves  thinking-  that  some  one  man  has  been  overpaid,  or 
that  he  lived  to  gain  his  selfish  ends. 

The  men  who  come  after  me  will  find  that  much  pioneer  work 
has  been  done  in  the  way  of  farmers  organizations.  We  have  suc- 
ceeded in  organizing  the  most  isolated  and  most  suspicious  of 
our  population  into  something  approaching  effectiveness,  but  the 
larger  victories  are  yet  unrecorded. 

The  dykes  of  the  future  must  be  even  broader  and  even  higher. 
Where  now  plain  earth  is  sufficient,  tomorrow  will  witness  the 
use  of  masonry.  Soldiers  will  be  stationed  along  the  borders  to 
arrest  or  shoot  down  those  who  seek  to  let  in  the  flood  from 
within  or  without.  Traps  that  are  stronger  and  firmer  jawed 
than  the  traps  of  today  will  be  fashioned  to  catch  the  gnawing 
moles.  The  current  will  grow  deeper.  It  will  grow  wider.  It 
will  bear  more  splendid  argosies  upon  its  bosom.  It  will  flash 
past  cities  in  which  are  hosts  of  men  and  women  and  children  yet 
unborn.  The  lights  glimmering  from  its  surface  will  bring  hope 
and  inspiration  and  comfort  to  millions  yet  to  see  the  good  green 
of  God's  earth. 

We  who  occupy  the  places  of  command  today,  have  merely 
fought  the  first  battles.  Abler  generals  and  larger  hosts  will 
come  tomorrow.  Already  the  man  whose  imagination  is  touched 
with  soul  can  hear  the  far. distant  rumble  of  their  trampling  feet. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  41 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  WATCHER  ON  THE  TOWEll. 

THE  man  who  watches  from  the  tower  sees  more  than  he 
who  navigates  the  sea  or  fights  the  battles  of  the  acres. 
Standing  in  the  watch-tower  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  I  can 
see  many  things  that  our  membership  will  need  to  learn  today 
before  they  will  realize  the  dreams  of  -tomorrow.  They  will  need 
first  of  all  to  learn  patience.  I  have  stressed  in  previous  chapters 
its  primal  necessity,  but  these  words  I  Vv^ish  you  would  keep  and 
paste  above  your  mantels  and  study  them  prayerfully  every  day. 

The  speculators  and  gamblers  in  the  various  cotton  exchanges 
are  among  our  most  powerful  foes,  but  they  required  years  of 
experience,  of  work,  and  of  viligance  to  gain  their  present  su- 
premacy. 

So  we,  too,  need  to  learn  patience.  We  need  to  learn  that  labor 
is  not  all  of  life ;  that  monotony  is  an  arch  enemy  to  growth  and 
happiness.  The  old  saw  has  it  that  "all  work  and  no  play  makes 
Jack  a  dull  boy."  It  not  only  makes  Jack  a  dull  boy,  thereby 
taking  money  out  of  his  pocket,  but  it  is  likely  to  make  him  a 
bad  boy,  getting  him  a  good  spanking  from  those  whose  business 
it  is  to  administer  laws.  Your  wives  and  your  children  deserve 
a  square  deal,  even  if  you  have  not  yourself  had  one.  Get  them 
magazines ;  get  them  books ;  subscribe  to  the  weekly  or  tri-weekly 
newspaper;  do  a  man's  part,  and  not  a  drone's,  in  improving  the 
rural  route  in  front  of  your  door;  give  them  facilities  to  get  to 
church,  to  small  social  gatherings,  and  to  school,  and  see  that 
they  use  them.  Isolation  and  loneliness  are  today  the  greatest 
inimical  influences  we  have  to  combat.  We  are  necessarily  a 
gregarious  people.  We  need  to  rub  elbows.  We  need  lightness 
and  sweetness  and  inspiration  and  beauty  in  our  lives.  Unless 
we  get  them  we  will  never  develop  into  the  full  statue  of  God- 
like proportions.  We  need,  too,  I  think  at  times  to  go  more  into 
politics.  By  that  I  do  not  mean  selfish,  inflammatory,  partisan 
politics.  Such  has  been  the  bane  of  similar  organizations  in  the 
past. 


42  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

But  we  do  need  to  sift  out  men  and  sift  out  candidates  relent- 
lessly as  to  their  interest  and  their  mental  qualifications,  and  to 
support  only  those  who  measure  up  to  an  exacting  standard,  and 
whom  we  are  quite  sure  will  take  care  of  our  interests.  We  need 
to  impress  our  force  as  a  cohesive  fighting  unit  upon  the  politi- 
cians of  this  country.  They  now  fawn  upon  us  and  feed  us  with 
honeved  words  and  phrases.  They  must  be  shown  that  what  we 
demand  is  not  verbage,  but  performance. 

Loyalty,  also,  is  one  of  our  great  needs.  The  man  who  gives 
grudging  allegiance  to  his  superior  in  the  organization  is  simply 
putting  a  brake  on  his  own  advancement.  If  you  disagree  with 
our  principles  you  have  no  business  to  affiliate  with  us.  If  you 
disagree  with  our  leaders,  get  up  and  make  your  complaint  man- 
fully and  honorably.  If  they  are  guilty  of  corruption,  impeach 
them.  If  they  are  incompetent,  show  them  up  and  demand  their 
retirement.  But  if  you  cannot  lay  a  finger  on  any  point  of  frailty, 
you  have  no  business  to  cause  dissatisfaction  in  others  and  to 
impede  the  cause  with  unreasonable  and  constant  grumblings. 
Our  foes  are  united  and  loyal  to  each  other  to  the  death.  If  we 
expect  to  win,  we  should  obey  our  motto. 

We  need  also  to  acquaint  ourselves  with  the  value  of  business 
methods.  The  farmer  is  the  first  man  on  earth  to  suffer  from 
slip-shod  rules  and  failure  to  observe  system.  His  is  the  most 
tremendous  and  the  most  vital  producing  business  in  the  world, 
and  it  is  regulated  in  the  most  aimless  manner.  Until  we  realize 
that  ours  is  as  much  a  profession  and  as  hard  to  learn  and  as 
difficult  to  prosecute  as  that  of  the  doctor  or  lawyer  and  the 
merchant,  we  will  not  record  the  profit  and  the  development  we 
have  a  right  to  expect.  And  what  is  more  to  the  point,  our 
neighbors  will  continue  to  refuse  to  take  us  seriously. 

Xo  one  denies  that  the  foundation  of  all  prosperity  hinges  on 
the  fruit  of  the  soil.  Every  great  fortune,  every  giant  trust  ha.«^ 
drawn  its  power  from  the  soil.  Failure  of  the  farmer  means  the 
crashing  fall  of  the  other.  Survey  for  a  moment  the  great  pros- 
perity and  riches  of  the  country — the  great  railroads,  the  power- 
ful newspapers,  the  huge  factories,  the  mighty  commercial  houses. 
Did  you  ever  stop  to  think  that  if  the  work  of  the  farmer  stopped 
for  even  a  season  that  railroads  would  rest  in  idleness,  news- 
papers would  stop,  factory  wheels  would  cease,  and  commercial 
life  would  lie  palsied? 

Vet.  if  this  superstructure  of  potential  ])i)\vcr.  greatness  and 
riches  has  been  builded  upon  the  endeavor  of  the  tiller  of  the  soil 
as  now  administered,  with  slip-shod  methods,  utter  disregard  for 


OF   THE    farmers'    UMOX.  43 

system  and  business-like  conduct,  think  what  this  country  would 
be  if  the  farmer  applied  method  and  system  to  his  own  business. 
Why,  his  fields  would  bloom  and  fruit  with  rich  harvests,  and  a 
steady  stream  of  riches  would  pour  into  his  own  hands.  And 
upon  his  added  power  and  productiveness  this  country  would 
come  upon  an  era  of  such  greatness,  such  riches,  as  the  world's 
history  has  never  recorded. 

Opposition  to  organization  of  farmers  by  other  business  inter- 
ests is,  in  my  calm  judgment,  a  mistaken  policy.  That  organiza- 
tion among  them  will  survive  the  mutations  of  time  and  all  oppo- 
sition is  as  certain  as  destiny.  The  history  of  argricultural  move- 
ments in  this  country  for  the  past  third  of  a  century  should  drive 
this  fact  home  to  everv  thinking  man.  Each  movement  toward 
organization  has  moved  over  slow  and  tortuous  ways  at  times. 
Many  have  crumbled  and  fallen,  from  causes  both  within  and 
without,  but  each  time  the  world  has  seen  a  stronger  organization 
spring  from  the  ruins. 

The  thinking  processes  of  the  mass  of  farmers  are  slow.  He 
is  hard  to  arouse,  and  his  isolation  has  begotten  in  him  a  spirit 
of  fighting  his  own  battles,  however  futile  his  campaign  may  be. 
It  is  the  outgrowth  of  pioneer  movements.  Farmers  have  been 
the  outposts  in  every  inch  of  territory  wrested  from  savage  hands. 
He  has  blazed  the  way  through  impenetrable  forests,  has  stood 
guard  over  his  home  and  family  with  gun  to  w^ard  off  savage  men 
and  savage  beasts.  Higher  civilization  followed  the  trail  he 
blazed,  the  way  he  had  made  safe. 

Is  it,  then,  any  wonder  that  he  has  become  self-centered,  in- 
dependent, difficult  to  command,  because  he  has  been  accustomed 
to  command,  and  hard  to  bring  together  into  compact  and  co- 
hesive thinking  bodies  ?  That  bold  and  hardy  spirit  of  the 
pioneer,  that  old  unquenchable  spirit  of  the  primal  and  inde- 
pendent man  still  stirs  his  descendants.  But,  finally  the  new  de- 
mands of  modern  life  dawned  on  him.  He  saw  that  the  w^orld, 
swift  paced,  had  distanced  him,  because  it  stood  shoulder  to 
shoulder,  back  to  back,  to  fight.  He  saw  that  things  w'ere  ac- 
complished through  compact  organization  of  forces.  He  saw 
that  weak  men  were  made  strong  because  they  were  upheld  by 
others.  And  seeing,  a  new  light  dawmed  on  him.  The  laws  of 
self-preservation  stirred  within  him.  He  saw  that  the  old  days 
had  vanished,  and  that  a  new  era  had  come.  Then  he  organized. 
It  w^as  crude,  mayhap,  futile  in  most  things,  but  it  was  a  drift  in 
the  right  direction.  That  old  spirit  of  individual  initiative  was 
still  rampant  in  him.     He  wanted  to  lead,  but  was  loathe  to  be 


44:  MISSION.    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

led.  So,  of  course,  artful  and  designing  men  thrust  in,  and  the 
organization  tumbled.  So  it  has  gone  on  and  on,  but  each  suc- 
cessive step  has  seen  bigger  and  better  advances.  He  has  learned 
much,  and  still  has  far  from  completed  his  education. 

Temperamentally  the  farmer  is  slow  to  think,  slow  to  anger, 
slow  to  see  that  he  is  the  unconscious  instrument  of  selfish  men. 
But  after  while  he  thinks,  and  he  sees  that  he  is  and  has  been 
wronged.  He  has  a  white-hot  flame  of  rage,  and  then  he  is  dan- 
gerous— dangerous  not  in  the  sense  of  physical  utterance  of  rage, 
but  he  knows  some  one  has  not  treated  him  well.  Then  he  rises 
up  in  passion,  and  like  an  angered  bull,  charges  at  the  first  object 
within  range.  Many  men  in  this  country,  once  great  and  power- 
ful in  the  nation's  counsels,  could  tell  you  what  his  rage  means, 
because  they  have  been,  sometimes  rightfully,  sometimes  wrong- 
fully, the  victims  of  these  passions.  The  individuals  rush  to- 
gether in  compact  bodies,  and  something  and  somebody  suffers. 
Then,  business  interests  in  a  mistaken  sense,  politicians  seeking 
selfish  ends,  destroy  this  organization.  Back  to  his  isolation  and 
his  loneliness  goes  the  farmer,  until  he  is  again  aroused  to  swift 
and  terrible  action. 

And  this  brings  me  around  to  the  meat  in  the  kernel.  If  the 
farmer  is  permanently  organized  into  helpful  bodies  he  at  last 
becomes  conservative.  The  flames  of  sudden  anger,  righteous 
anger,  too,  very  often,  do  not  come  upon  him.  He  works  steadily 
and  soberly  to  right  his  wrongs,  to  better  his  condition,  and  to 
accomplish  his  ends.  He  realizes  that  swift  and  burning  anger  is 
a  waste,  and  that  it  does  not  always  reach  the  right  object.  He 
comes  to  lean  upon  the  matured  and  sound  judgment  of  his  lead- 
ers. His  natural  suspicion  of  everything  and  everybody  is  allayed. 
He  comes  to  know  that  there  are  other  men  with  wrongs  as  deep 
as  his,  who  move  slowly,  surely,  without  passion,  and  inexorably 
toward  definite  reforms.  Organization  becomes  his  balance  wheel, 
for  he  knows  that  the  mass  can  reach  what  the  individual  cannot. 
His  judgment  rounds  out,  his  passion  flames  cool,  he  comes  to 
believe  in  the  common  sense  of  others. 

These,  to  my  mind,  form  clear  and  cogent  reasons  why  farmers 
organization  should  receive  the  encouragement  and  help  of  every 
other  business.  It  is  to  the  interest  of  the  whole  people  finan- 
cially, socially,  and  morally  to  foster  the  Union.  In  doing  so  the 
possibility  of  class  being  arrayed  against  class  is  minimized. 
Danger  from  swift  and  sudden  heats  of  wrath  are  lessened.  Fewer 
men  would  have  cause  or  reason  to  fear  and  hate  the  farmer  for 
his  volatile  protests  against  wrongs. 

We  have  within  our  own  making  a  destiny  that  baffles  specula- 
tion.    We  can  nn]\-  attain  it  frnni  our  own  endeavors. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  46 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE  FARMER  MUST  GO  INTO  POLITICS. 

I,\M  going  to  deliberately  court  the  holy  horror  of  a  few  hun- 
dred "I  told-you-sos."  The  farmer  must  go  into  politics,  and 
when  I  say  the  farmer,  it  necessarily  follows  that  I  mean,  to 
an  extent,  the  Farmers'  Union. 

I  am  aware  that  this  attitude  is  at  radical  variance  with  the 
old,  settled,  and  conventional  opinion  on  the  subject.  In  years 
past  the  very  word  "politics,"  as  applied  to  the  farmer  as  a  class, 
has  been  enough  to  set  every  dog  in  the  country  howling.  The 
time  has  come,  however,  when  we  must  utterly  disregard  kind 
and  benevolent  advice  from  our  would-be  friends,  free  and  un- 
limited counsel  from  our  would-be  saviors,  and  use  the  horse 
sense  with  which  the  Almighty  has  endowed  us.  The  dictates  of 
that  horse  sense  point  our  entrance  into  the  field  of  political  activ- 
ity if  we  would  take  practical  and  not  oratorical  steps  toward  the 
materialization  of  our  mission. 

It  should  be  understood  that  there  is  a  wide  divergence  be- 
tween politics  and  partisanry.  The  first  I  advocate,  the  second  I 
will  oppose  to  my  dying  day. 

We  have  passed,  at  many  conventions,  resolutions  of  an  iron- 
clad nature  declaring  our  position  on  this  issue.  We  have  made 
it  as  much  as  the  membership  of  a  man  is  worth  to  embark  in 
partisan  politics  while  associated  with  the  Union.  What  we  need 
is  to  select  only  those  men  of  demonstrated  mental  and  moral  fit- 
ness. 

That  is  not  partisan  politics.  It  is  business  politics,  and  the 
plainest  sort  of  self-preservation.  Every  corporation  and  big 
business  of  every  description  is  today  in  politics.  You  cannot 
point  me  to  a  single  industry  in  this  country,  save  that  of  the 
farmer,  which  has  not  accredited  representatives  in  Congress  and 
in  the  large  conventions  that  meet  to  determine  party  nominees 
every  two  or  every  four  years.  You  will  remember  that  even  our 
organized  labor  friends  sent  powerful  delegates  both  to  the  Chi- 
cago and  Denver  conventions  last  year.     A  plank  of  their  fram- 


46 


MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


sTAii',   i;\i:(,i;tivk  (JOMMITTEE,  texas  division. 
1.  J.   E.   MoNTGOMEiiY,  Chairman. 

2.  H.    Laas.  4.  .7.  A.  Wheeler. 

3.  M.  C.  McKoNKKv.  r..  J.  C.  Albritton. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  47 

ing  was  inserted  in  the  Democratic  platform  and  became  the  bone 
of  contention  for  the  entire  campaign. 

The  farmers  of  the  country  overwhehningly  outnumber  not 
only  the  laboring  but  the  business  classes.  In  the  face  of  this 
plain  fact,  and  in  the  face  of  the  fact  that  the  farmers'  interests 
are  more  urgent  than  either  of  these  other  two,  and  that  those 
interests  are  more  intimately  bound  up,  not  only  in  the  welfare 
of  the  business  man,  but  of  the  country  at  large,  he  has  little  or 
no  voice  in  the  organized  politics  of  today. 

This  is  a  farcical  and  a  most  injurious  paradox.  Its  signifi- 
cance is  that  as  far  as  concentrated  efforts  are  concerned,  sixty 
per  cent  of  the  population  of  this  country  is  tied  hand  and  foot. 

Just  let  that  soak  gently  into  your  mind — sixty  per  cent! 

It  is  my  belief  that  until  this  inequality  is  remedied  we  will  be 
fatally  handicapped  in  pushing  for  our  legitimate  ends.  The 
demagogue  and  the  politician  may  rave  to  their  heart's  content 
about  their  friendship  for  the  farmer.  They  may  tell  him,  and 
swear  to  it  on  a  stack  of  Bibles  as  high  as  Pikes  Peak,  that  they 
will  fight  this  or  that  measure  to  legislation. 

But  as  long  as  they  know  that  that  man  is  not  shooting  at  them 
with  thousands  of  well  trained  ballots,  you  can  bet  your  last  penny 
that  the  way  for  lies  and  evasions  and  subterfuges  and  broken 
promises  will  be  left  open. 

The  sharp-shooter  sitting  on  an  isolated  tree  near  the  outposts 
of  the  enemy  can  accomplish  little  or  no  good.  He  may  pick  off 
a  straggler  here  and  there,  but  it  is  not  his  rifle  that  wins  battles 
or  wars.  It  is  the  combined  rifle  fire  of  thousands  of  men.  con- 
centrated into  drilled  regiments,  directed  by  generals  who  know 
their  business  and  who  know  alike  the  weakness  and  the  strength 
of  the  enemy. 

This  is  precisel\-  what  "going  into  politics"  means  for  the 
farmer.  What  is  the  use  of  preaching  the  wisdom  of  voting  for 
the  right  man,  when  some  fool  or  knave  or  blockhead  in  the  next 
county  may  kill  your  vote  ?  What  is  the  use  of  tearing  our  shirts 
over  principles  and  policies  unless  we  are  going  to  put  a  sweeping 
and  resistless  volley  of  votes  back  of  those  principles  and  policies  ? 

The  l)allot  is  the  deadliest  weapon  known  to  modern  history. 
Handled  in  the  proper  way  we  can  shoot  down  the  hypocrites  and 
demagogues  who  are  opposing  our  progress  with  their  lying 
promises,  or  we  can  put  into  office  the  men  whose  tried  worth 
will  make  sure  the  realization  of  those  principles. 

I  leave  it  to  any  man  with  the  ordinary  supply  of  mother  wit 
if  what  I  have  not  been  saying  is  not  the  plainest  sort  of  common 
sense. 


48  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

All  these  statements  apply  to  local  as  well  as  to  national  poli- 
tics. The  great  men  and  the  small  skunk  are  not  confined  to  the 
national  field ;  they  are  fovmd  in  every  militia  district.  The  only 
way  to  impress  your  purpose  upon  them  is  to  shoot  them  in  the 
neck  with  the  ballot.  They  are  pretty  apt  to  remember  a  wound 
of  this  character  and  how  they  came  by  it. 

I  realize,  of  course,  that  the  course  I  have  outlined  presents 
difficulties  as  well  as  possibilities.  We  must  use  our  power  care- 
fully and  exact  rigid  honesty  of  the  men  we  place  in  authority, 
if  we  would  forestall  abuse  and  corruption. 

That  much  is  true,  however,  of  any  army  or  any  organization 
in  history,  and  I  do  not  think  that  the  honest  American  farmer  is 
likely  to  injure  the  country  any  more  desperately  than  the  trusts 
or  other  great  institutions  which  have  chosen  the  political  road  to 
attain  their  ends. 

But  it  is  settled  beyond  peradventure  that  going  into  politics 
is  our  sole  salvation.  Until  we  do,  we  will  be  trying  to  turn  over 
the  earth  with  a  toothpick. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  ^9 


CHAPTER  V. 


COTTON,  THE  ABSOLUTE  COMMERCIAL  DESPOT  OF  CIVILIZA- 
TION—ITS MARKETING. 

C'l  OTTON  is  the  absolute  commercial  despot  of  civilization. 
J  It  is  more  powerful  than  any  monarch  of  history,  and  its 
influence  is  more  overshadowing^  than  that  ever  wielded  by 
the  Czar  of  all  the  Russias. 

Without  it,  unnumbered  millions  of  European  and  American 
laborers  and  their  families  would  fall  upon  a  speedy  starvation. 
Without  it,  unnumbered  millions  of  Christians,  Mohammedans, 
Buddhists,  black,  yellow,  and  brown  hoardes  that  do  homage  to 
every  conceivable  god,  would  go  naked,  hungry,  and  without 
shelter. 

The  white  staple  is  the  biggest  and  most  important  ingredient 
in  modern  warfare.  It  has  just  been  recognized  as  contraband 
of  war  by  the  nations.  It  is  the  principal  element  in  the  high  ex- 
plosives that  are  the  chief  feature  of  latter-day  carnage;  it  is  the 
substance  that  forms  the  bandages  that  bind  the  wounds  of  the 
fallen  in  battle,  and  that  enabled  the  Japanese  to  create  a  new 
historical  record  of  men  saved  from  wounds  received  on  the  firing 
line 

This  regal  fibre  enters  into  a  thousand  uses  of  which  the  average 
man  and  woman  are  as  ignorant  as  are  the  inhabitants  of  Mars. 
It  forms  a  part  of  the  indispensable  raiment  of  kings  and  ditch- 
diggers.  It  encloses  every  infant  that  comes  with  puckered  face 
into  the  world.  It  shrouds  every  toil-worn  wayfarer  on  his  last 
journey  toward  infinity. 

The  cook  uses  its  by-product  in  the  kitchen  as  vegetable  lard, 
and  she  herself  uses  it  on  the  table  too  often  as  alleged  "olive  oil," 
when  it  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  refined  cotton  seed  shipped 
back  from  Marseilles  under  a  misleading  label. 

Every  moment  of  the  twenty-four  hours  enumerable  masses  of 
the  world's  population  is  in  some  manner  paying  tribute  to  king 
cotton.  The  world  might  find  a  substitute  for  corn,  wheat,  and 
iron.    At  least  it  could  obtain  them  from  other  localities  than  the 


^50  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Southern  States.     It  could  find  a  substance  to  replace  wool  and 
silk. 

Cotton  is  the  one  indispensable  article  of  civilization  and  of 
heathendom. 

The  Southern  farmer  who  sweats  out  his  life  and  those  of  his 
wife  and  his  children  for  a  weekly  pittance,  selling  his  cotton  for 
less  than  it  is  worth  to  spinner  and  consumer,  is  a  slave. 

America  boasts  that  she  has  an  enormous  balance  on  the  credit 
side  of  the  ledger  in  the  matter  of  world  trade.  Cotton  is  all  that 
sustains  that  boast.  Raw  cotton  at  that.  If  it  were  not  for  the 
millions  of  bales  we  ship  across  the  ocean  every  fall  and  winter, 
the  balance  would  be  pathetically  on  the  debit  side  of  the  ledger. 

The  orators  and  the  big  business  men  who  prate  so  eloquently 
and  so  wisely  of  our  international  supremacy,  never  once  give  a 
thought  to  the  poor  devil  toiling  the  Southern  furrow  to  uphold 
that  supremacy.  They  never  consider  that  until  those  millions  of 
outgoing  bales  are  transformed  into  incalculable  yards  of  finished 
product  that  the  international  supremacy  of  the  United  States  will 
be  an  inglorious  fiction. 

The  Farmers'  Union  regards  itself  as  the  custodian  for  the 
world  of  the  world's  greatest  asset.  One  of  our  distinguishing 
missions  is  to  redress  inequalities  of  which  I  have  spoken,  and  the 
development  that  confronts  us  at  every  point  of  the  compass,  and 
whenever  and  wherever  the  sun  rises. 

We  have  perfected  plans  and  arrangements  whereby  the  yield 
will  be  warehoused  to  a  large  extent  in  buildings  owned  by  the 
Union,  from  which  it  will  be  fed  to  the  market  as  conditions  and 
prices  make  advisable. 

Previously,  and  up  to  the  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Union, 
this  tremendous  Southern  staple  had  been  bought  and  sold  in  a 
most  haphazard  manner. 

There  had  been  free  rein  for  the  sinister  activities  of  gamblers 
and  manipulators.  A  dozen  resourceful  agencies  intervene  be- 
tween the  producer  and  the  ultimate  spinner. 

Providence  has  apparently  gifted  the  South  with  a  monopoly 
of  this  fibre.  We  raise  approximately  eighty  per  cent  of  the 
present  world's  supply.  Attempts  have  been  made  elsewhere, 
systematically,  by  every  civilized  nation,  and  in  every  portion  of 
the  globe,  to  find  an  area  which  would  supplant  the  Southern 
States.  Up  to  the  present  time  such  efforts  have  not  availed  to 
cut  down  our  advantage. 

So  that  it  is  with  cotton  that  the  South  levies  tribute  on  the 
world.     We  take  toll   from   the  Britisher,  the  German,  Johnny 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  51 

Frenchman,  the  Spaniard,  the  subjects  of  the  Czar,  the  Chinaman, 
the  Cocky  Jap,  and  the  gentlemen  who  reside  in  the  islands  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  and  in  the  fastnesses  of  Africa,  and  who  are  clad 
only  in  a  cotton  collar  amid  ships  and  a  sweet  smile. 

For  one  hundred  years  we  have  maintained  this  monopoly.  It 
has  been  growing  more  profitable  each  year.  It  is  not  by  any 
means  confined  in  its  benefits  to  the  farmer.  For  it  enables,  the 
farmer  to  pay  his  debts,  to  buy  more  land,  to  buy  groceries,  to 
buy  more  stock,  to  build  houses,  to  buy  agricultural  implements,  to 
patronize  banks,  and  to  erect  his  own  warehouses.  Figure  that 
out  step  by  step  and  you  will  see  that  the  ten  cents  per  pound  the 
farmer  gets  for  his  cotton  is  shared  by  practically  every  business 
man,  every  wage  earner,  practically  every  woman  and  child  in  the 
Southern  States. 

Cotton  erects  a  great  white  barrier  about  Dixie,  and  we  are 
hoping  that  the  Farmers'  Union  will  eventually  be  able  to  repel 
from  behind  this  barrier  all  of  the  industrial  and  financial  foes  of 
the  South,  as  well  as  to  keep  at  home  millions  upon  millions  of 
dollars  now  needlessly  being  drained  by  other  sections. 

The  system  recently  inauguarted  insures  that  all  warehouses 
owned  by  the  Union,  and  they  are  surprisingly  large  in  number 
and  national  in  location,  shall  be  merged  under  one  sympathetic 
management,  and  directed  by  one  intelligent  and  sympathetic 
agency.  This  achievement  is  direct  progress  toward  gradual 
marketing.  It  should,  and  doubtless  will,  enable  us  to  conquer 
the  great  crises  which  every  year  confront  us  of  congested  and 
unprofitable  markets. 

The  plan  will  ultimately  contemplate  the  storing  of  enough 
cotton  in  these  Union  warehouses  to  become  the  balance  of  power 
in  the  disposal  of  the  crop.  Certificates  representing  a  percentage 
of  the  market  value  of  the  staple  will  be  issued  to  members  de- 
positing cotton.  These  certificates  will  become  negotiable,  and 
also  collateral  for  loans  and  indebtedness. 

When  it  is  borne  in  mind  that  the  principal  reason  for  low 
prices  in  the  past  has  been  either  the  glutting  of  the  market  by 
foolish  farmers,  or  the  selling  of  the  "distress"  cotton  by  men 
who  were  compelled  thus  to  discharge  their  indebtedness,  it  will 
be  seen  that  we  are  working  toward  an  extremely  practical  solu- 
tion of  this  big  problem.  It  is.  moreover,  a  solution  that  works 
harm  on  no  one.  but  which  is  merely  a  business  method  adopted 
in  the  West  with  regard  to  the  marketing  of  wheat  and  corn. 

In  conjunction,  of  course,  with  this  system  we  will  maintain 
a  corps  of  correspondents  in  Europe,  in  America,  and  in  every 


52  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

nation  utilizing  cotton.  It  is  the  business  of  these  men,  whose 
training  has  been  proven,  to  keep  us  informed  regarding  the 
needs,  movements,  and  the  developments  of  the  spinners. 

The  designs  outlined  in  the  foregoing  are  all  simple  and  sub- 
stantial business  methods  our  people  have  adopted,  and  are  adopt- 
ing. We  are  not  going  to  boast  until  we  get  out  of  the  woods. 
But  we  believe  that  we  now  see  our  way  clear  to  reducing  the 
problem  that  has  for  many  generations  baffled  and  crushed  the 
Southern  planter. 

In  making  sure  that  he  will  receive  a  fair  return  for  his  labor, 
we  are  working  in  behalf  of  every  other  interest  in  the  South  of 
the  reigning  generation  as  well  as  posterity. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  53 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE   AMERICAN  FARMER,  THE  NOBLEST  HANDIWORK  OF 
THE  CREATOR. 

GOD  in  His  heaven  created  the  earth  and  all  that  therein  is 
and  saw  that  it  was  good. 

The  heritage  of  the  fields  and  the  forests,  the  streams 
and  the  seas,  He  gave  into  the  stewardship  of  man  made  in  His 
own  image. 

Man,  being  human,  his  first  necessity  was  that  of  food ;  ex- 
tremes of  climate  attacking  him  and  his  own  modesty  awakening, 
the  next  necessity  was  that  of  raiment. 

These  two  primary  factors  of  every-day  life  in  every  land  under 
the  sun  are  behind  each  inch  of  progress  recorded  by  the  human 
race. 

We  are  many  thousand  years  separated  from  the  first  men  that 
strode  with  open  eyes  and  open  intelligence  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth.  Analyze  and  evade  and  boast  as  we  will,  the  fundamental 
necessities  of  clothing  and  of  food,  not  to  mention  that  of  shelter, 
are  today  the  world's  most  important  considerations. 

He  who  ministers  to  these  needs  is  par  excellence  to  the 
greatest  factor  in  civilization. 

Since  man  first  tickled  the  earth  with  the  point  of  a  stick,  and 
carefully  watered  and  nurtured  the  little  grains  that  were  made 
to  sprout  into  substance  that  should  keep  together  the  soul  and 
body,  the  farmer  has  been  the  support  of  the  races  whether 
in  Christian  or  heathen  lands. 

In  America  his  kind  came  over  with  the  first  few  Spanish  and 
English  explorers.  In  the  magically  fertile  soil  of  Santo  Domingo. 
and  of  the  smiling  country  around  Jamestown,  and  in  that  Florida 
Land  of  Flowers,  where  the  aging  Ponce  de  Leon  looked  vainly 
for  the  fountain  of  perpetual  youth,  these  hardy  pioneers  laid  the 
foundations  for  the  sublime  superstructure  of  the  American  agri- 
culture of  today.  America  has  grown  and  expanded  intellectually, 
materially,  and  spiritually  since  those  days.  She  has  taken  on 
world  importance.     Never  in  history  has  there  been  such  a  nation 


54 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


ruoMiNHNT   r.Mox   \\(>i!Ki:ks.  ti;xas  and  Oklahoma  divisions. 

1.  Thf  m;in  with  short  liair,  Sam  IIami-tun  :    the  other,  Gkeen  H.  rATTKusoN, 

Lecturers. 

2.   Miss  Xkllik  IIoiston,  Ex-State  Treasurer. 

."'..    Mus.  LiTiF.  Okesiiam  'I'EMPLETON,  Adopted  Daughter  of  llie  Nil tioii;il  T^nion. 

4.   J.  It.  Lrci:.  Kx-.Mfinher  State  lOxeeulive  Coniinil  trc. 

."..   r..   V.  CiiAr.MA.N,   I'l.x-Stale  Secretary-Treasurci  . 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  55- 

as  this  first  and  greatest  republic  of  Christendom.  From  her 
swarming  port  of  New  York  she  looks  out  to  the  four  compass 
points  of  civilization,  beckoning  the  trade  of  distant  and  alien 
peoples  and  sending  them  in  return  her  argosies  laden  with  the 
fruits  of  her  soil  and  her  labor  and  her  ingenuity. 

The  diplomat  in  the  European  capital,  furthering  the  advantage 
of  his  country  by  wile  and  stratagem,  is  in  some  way  vassal  to 
America.  The  student  in  the  universities  of  Germany,  and  in  the 
academies  of  France,  in  some  manner,  and  at  some  time,  are 
tributary  to  the  great  American  nation.  The  gibbering  man^ 
animal  in  the  jungle  of  Africa  or  the  slant-eyed  celestial  in  the 
land  of  the  Rising  Sun  look  with  eager  and  expectant  gaze  toward 
the  shores  of  Columbia.  For  it  is  from  there  that  they  draw  mUch 
of  the  substance  and  nuich  of  the  inspiration  that  figures  in  their 
hourly  lives  and  in  their  sluggish  designs  on  the  morrow. 

So,  then,  America  is  preeminent  in  civilization,  preeminent  in  a 
manner  that  is  new  to  precedent,  and  that  must  widen  in  its 
wonder  and  its  grandeur  with  the  unwinding  of  time. 

The  American  farmer  is  the  father,  the  custodian,  the  savior 
and  the  future  for  this  vast  and  impending  greatness. 

Without  his  diligence  in  coercing  from  the  soil  a  largess  of 
its  fertility,  where  would  be  the  world-wide  commercial  supremacy 
of  the  United  States  ? 

Without  his  patience  and  his  industry  in  piling  up  cotton  and 
wheat  and  corn  for  the  feeding  and  the  clothing  of  his  own  people, 
and  of  millions  more  whom  he  never  has  seen,  and  will  never  see, 
what  figure  would  America  cut  in  the  impressive  chorus  of 
nations  ? 

Without  the  grinding  and  sweating  and  killing  and  illy  paid 
activity  that  brings  forth  crude  material  frOm  the  soil,  where 
would  be  the  myriad  industries  that  send  skyward  the  smoke  of* 
thousands  of  factories,  and  that  give  employment  to  millions  of 
men,  and  that  feed  millions  more  of  women  and  children  ?  ' 

Where  would  be  the  bread  and  the  meat  of  those  other  un- 
counted armies  of  European  laborers  who  depend  upon  American 
cotton  and  other  products  for  sheer  livelihood? 

Where  would  be  the  magnificent  international  trade  with  which 
England  overshadows  civilization  ? 

Where  would  be  the  spreading  traffic  with  which  Germany  and 
France  and  Russia  reach  out  into  barbarous  regions  and  subjugate 
them  to  their  capital  ? 

Blot  out  the  American  farmer  tomorrow,  diminish  his  activity 
or  his  loyalty  by  the  smallest  iota  and  you  pinch  all  civilization. 


56  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

The  black  stain  of  the  boll  weevil  upon  the  cotton  of  the  South 
is  of  more  concern  to  Europe  than  any  great  political  question. 

Abnormal  visitations  of  nature  or  of  climate  on  this  side  of  the 
water  more  greatly  agitate  the  capitalist  and  the  laborer  of 
America  and  of  Europe  than  do  any  of  the  precepts  of  religion. 

The  farmer,  the  American  farmer,  is  the  foundation  or  pillar 
and  three-fourths  of  the  superstructure  of  civilization.  How 
many  of  the  glib  politicians  or  of  the  impatient  professional  men 
who  figure  deftly  regarding  statistics  in  this  country,  adequately 
realize  that  fact. 

They  are  wont  to  discourse  smoothy  and  in  beautiful  terms  of 
the  indispensability  of  the  farming  classes. 

How  many  of  them  remotely  realize  the  dimensions  of  that 
indispensability?  What  the  sun  and  the  rain  are  to  the  earth, 
that  is  the  farmer  to  the  earth  also. 

Not  often  is  he  given  credit  for  this  overweaning  importance. 

Neglected,  ridiculed,  and  misunderstood  he  is  more  likely  the 
butt  for  humorous  cartoon  and  lame  quip. 

With  the  sharp  ones  of  earth  who  arrogate  to  themselves  credit 
for  all  the  shrewdness  and  knowledge  in  creation,  the  farmer  may 
be  a  by-word  for  credulity  and  ignorance  unfathomable. 

But  I  tell  you  that  this  man  who  is  meekness  and  patience  and 
long  suffering  is  feeding  and  clothing  and  sheltering  the  nations, 
and  who  is  putting  bread  into  the  mouths  of  the  world's  popula- 
tion, is  the  noblest  handiwork  of  the  Creator. 

The  Master  once  said,  "He  who  would  be  greatest  among  you 
let  him  be  your  servant." 

Gauged  by  this  sublime  injunction  the  farmer  towers  over- 
whelmingly above  all  the  children  •of  men. 

He  who  stops  the  hungriness  and  covers  the  nakedness  of  man- 
kind must  frequently  himself  go  hungry  and  naked. 

He  who  brings  wealth  and  prosperity  to  men  who  know  not 
his  trials  and  his  problems,  must  often  deprive  wife  and  child  of 
the  commonest  necessities  of  existence. 

He  who  brings  joy  and  gladness  to  men,  women,  and  little 
children  in  this  and  in  distant  lands  is  frequently  like  the  Naza- 
renc  himself,  ''A  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief." 

A  better  day  is  dawning  for  this  wonderful  child  of  God. 

He  has  been  all  these  years  like  a  fettered  giant.  Some  of 
those  fetters  he  has  already  stricken.  Others  of  them  he  is  just 
feeling  and  beginning  to  loose. 

He  is  now  standing  upright  with  his  face  toward  the  rising 
sun.    He  is  following  the  glancing  rays  of  its  light  with  keen  eyes 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  57 

to  the  uttermost  ends  of  civilization.  He  is  seeing  with  all  meek- 
ness and  humility  that  it  is  he  with  whom  God  has  charged  the 
greatest  mission  in  all  history.  He  is  seeing,  as  through  a  magic 
perspective,  the  tremendous  reaches  of  his  illimitable  influence. 

He  knows  that  his  life  work  has  barely  begun.  He  sees  that 
greater  and  vaster  conquests  and  larger  duties  await  his  tested 
talents. 

But  he  knows,  too,  that  no  longer  will  the  world-old  task  of 
supporting  the  world  be  done  in  blindness  and  in  tears. 

Scales  no  longer  impede  his  eyesight. 

God's  hand  rests  upon  his  shoulder,  and  he  looks  down  the 
luminous  centuries  at  the  magnificence  of  achievement  and  of 
service  yet  to  come. 


58 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


I'KiiMIMl.N  T    AVOUKKUS,  TKXAS     1  >I  N' ISU  ).\. 

1.  (;i;i>iti.i;   W.   Kant.  Orzniiizor  aiui  LciliinM-. 

2.  L.  H.  IIiii.i.iiWAY,  OrKjmizor  :uul  I.ccturiT. 
;{.   f).  F.  I»()K\iii,ASKU.  Organizer  Miui  LccHin  r. 

4.    Hknuy  l''..  WiMti!.  rinw-I!<i.v  Oriilor  "f  \hr  riaiiis  of  West    loxns. 
"i.   .1.  I..  Ait.MSTitoNd,  OrKiinizcr  niiil  I.cct  iin'r. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  69 


CHAPTER  VII. 


now  TIJE  I'KUi'EU  FUNCTIONS  OF   FXCIIAXGES  ARE 
PROSTITUTED. 

IF  you  will  allow  me  to  use  a  Biblical  illustration,  from  the  time 
that  Adam  and  Eve  grew  more  fruit  and  vegetables  than 
their  family  could  consume,  men  felt  the  necessity  for  markets, 
where  they  could  at  profitable  prices  dispose  of  the  surplus  of 
their  labor. 

Exchanges  are  nothing  in  the  world  but  markets.  They  are  a 
central  place  where  buyers  and  sellers  can  meet,  exhibit  their 
wares,  and  effect  sales  with  justice  to  both. 

The  exchange,  as  it  applies  to  the  selling  of  cotton,  grain,  and 
other  commodities  in  America,  has  hopelessly  prostituted  its  func- 
tions. 

Intended,  originally,  as  a  place  where  producer  and  the  agent 
of  the  consumer  could  get  together  with  a  "square  deal"  to  both, 
they  have  degenerated  into  colossal  gambling  marts.  Here  the 
products  upon  which  the  wealth  of  the  country  depends,  are 
juggled  about  as  so  many  pawns  in  a  game  of  chess,  or  as  dice  in 
the  hands  of  gamblers. 

The  original  purpose,  and  the  only  excuse,  of  exchanges  is 
today  being  defeated.  Producers  and  consumers,  rarely,  if  ever, 
get  together  at  our  present  exchanges.  Many  of  the  farmers  do 
not  know  the  meaning  of  the  exchange,  save  what  they  have 
learned  by  bitter  and  robbing  experience.  Many  of  the  consum- 
ers, the  majority  of  them,  knowing  nothing  of  the  rules  of  trade, 
and  how  they  are  abused  on  these  exchanges,  are  being  hourly 
robbed  to  support  a  set  of  high-class  gamblers  who  would  not 
know  cotton  or  corn  or  wheat  if  they  saw  it,  and  who  are  as 
merciless  as  the  grave. 

Only  when  these  abuses  are  corrected  will  the  farmers  and  the 
consumers  get  that  nmch-talked-about  "square  deal." 

At  this  time  the  Farmers'  Union  is  engaged  in  an  effort  to  have 
gambling  in  the  price  of  farm  products  eliminated  from  exchanges, 
and  transactions  there  limited  to  actual  sales.     It  is  contended  bv 


60  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

the  exchange  interest  that  this  should  not  be  done.  They  contend 
that  present  methods  are  the  outgrowth  of  business  necessity. 

This  we  deny.  We  recognize  that  as  business  conditions 
change,  there  must  be  changes  in  business  methods,  but  these 
changes  should  be  along  honest,  natural  lines,  and  that  it  never 
can  become  proper  in  order  to  meet  changed  business  conditions, 
to  associate  gambling  as  a  necessary  adjunct.  We  deny  that  the 
change  which  has  made  the  volume  of  transactions  on  exchange ; 
gambling,  instead  of  legitimate  transactions,  has  come  in  response 
to  changed  business  conditions,  but  we  insist  that  it  has  come  as 
an  increased  source  of  revenue  to  the  members  of  and  professional 
operators  or  exchanges.  That  is  not  an  evidence  of  improvement, 
but  of  deterioration.  That  is  not  a  benefit,  but  an  injury  to  trade 
transactions. 

It  is  not  every  change  which  is  an  improvement.  Many  insti- 
tutions, even  governments,  have  made  changes  which  have  worked 
their  destruction.  Experience  has  taught  that  there  are  laws 
which  must  govern  all  business  and  human  relations,  as  immutable 
as  the  laws  which  govern  the  purely  physical  universe,  and  that 
all  true  progress  must  be  made  in  conformity  to  them. 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  EXCHANGES. 

At  an  early  period  markets  came  to  occupy  a  most  important 
place  in  the  commercial  machinery  of  all  peoples.  There  was 
nothing  artificial  about  them — they  were  places  where  by  common 
consent  those  who  desired  to  sell,  carried  their  property,  and  met 
and  traded  with  those  who  desired  to  purchase.  Such  markets 
as  we  refer  to  have  continued  to  this  day,  both  as  originally 
established,  and  as  altered  to  meet  changed  business  conditions, 
constantly  adhering  to  their  fundamental  characteristic,  viz.,  a 
place  where  the  buyer  and  seller  meet  to  trade.  Practically  the 
only  development  which  has  occurred  in  these  markets  is  that 
there  has  been  added  to  trading  in  bulk,  trading  in  commodities, 
by  sample,  and  instead  of  all  trades  being  conducted  in  person, 
trades  are  made  to  a  larger  extent  through  agents  whose  regular 
business  it  is  to  represent  other  persons.  To  make  trades  in 
person  was  inconvenient  and  expensive  to  those  who  lived  at  a 
great  distance  from  the  market,  or  whose  business  would  not 
permit  them  to  remain  at  the  market  place  until  all  their  property 
had  been  sold,  or  until  all  their  purchases  had  been  made,  there- 
fore it  was  advantageous  to  have  men  constantly  reside  at  the 
market,  and  each  market  day  offer  for  sale  the  property  of  their 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  61 

principals  which  had  been  intrusted  to  them  for  sale,  and  to  seek- 
to  fill  orders  for  their  clients  desiring  to  purchase.  As  the  volume 
of  business  increased,  and  trade  conditions  became  more  complex, 
it  became  necessary  to  have  buildings,  clerks,  etc.,  and  rules  to 
govern  transactions  made  through  the  markets  at  exchanges  as 
they  come  to  be  known.  It  followed  naturally  that  these  men 
engaged  in  the  business  of  acting  for  others,  should  mutually 
agree  among  themselves  to  provide  houses  and  equipment  re- 
quired, and  having  procured  same,  it  also  followed,  naturally, 
that  the  general  public  would  not  be  allowed  to  use  this  equip- 
ment. 

Thus  we  have  developed  perfectly  naturally  the  exchange 
governed  by  rules,  with  a  regular  membership  who  own  the 
common  property,  and  have  exclusive  right  to  its  use,  resulting 
in  the  appropriation  of  that  which  has  been  common  property, 
viz.,  the  market.  There  seems  to  have  been  nothing  unnatural  in 
this  development,  though  it  has  resulted  in  a  few'  monopolizing 
the  market  facilities  of  a  market  which  may  have  been  built  up 
by  the  whole  trading  public.  It  may  be  that  it  would  have  been 
better  had  the  public  through  their  civil  government  retained  con- 
trol. It  may  be  that  there  will  be  other  developments  which  will 
place  such  places  more  directly  under  such  control. 

There  came  to  markets  as  originally  established,  only  the  buyer 
and  the  seller.  Some  buyers  desired  the  articles  purchased  for 
their  own  consumption,  others  purchased  to  sell  again.  The  man 
who  owned  no  commodity  which  he  wanted  to  sell,  or  who  did 
not  desire  in  good  faith  to  purchase  property,  was  not  present 
at  these  markets.    Really  he  has  no  business  in  any  market. 

BEGINNING  OF   FUTURE  TR.ADING. 

Within  the  last  half  century,  a  man  began  to  sell  cotton  in 
England  "to  arrive"  later.  In  these  sales  the  seller  had  in  mind 
cotton  in  transit,  out  of  which  he  expected  to  make  delivery,  and 
the  buyer  expected  him  to  make  delivery  according  to  contract, 
and  made  his  arrangements  to  receive  same  when  delivered. 
These  transactions  appear  to  have  been  the  beginning  of  sales  for 
future  delivery.  Such  transactions  as  this  had  in  them  an  element 
of  danger  to  the  contractor,  but  this  element  of  danger  was  not 
necessarily  great.  Cotton  was  in  existence,  and  from  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  cotton  in  transit,  and  the  price  at  which  he  had  already, 
or  could  purchase,  he  could  be  reasonably  certain  of  his  ability  to 
comply  with  his  contract  at  a  profit.    These  transactions  may  not 


62  MISSION^  HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

be  objected  to  on  any  ground  recognized  in  our  present  business 
ethics,  but  it  cannot  be  said  that  the  man  who  made  these  con- 
tracts performed  an  economic  service  since  he  had  not  been  instru- 
mental in  so  far  as  the  transaction  showed,  in  moving  the  cotton 
to  market.  If  he  merely  hung  upon  the  market  and  speculated 
upon  the  result  of  the  effort  and  labor  of  other  men,  he  had  no 
standing  in  so  far  as  his  rights  were  concerned.  Whatever  he 
acquired  was  taken  from  the  legitimate  profit  of  those  who  did 
really  do  things,  with  reference  to  the  commodity,  which  entitled 
them  to  remuneration  or  his  profit  was  added  to  the  cost  to  the 
consumers.  In  any  event,  his  operations  were  burdensome  to 
those  legitimately  and  necessarily  connected  with  the  staple,  and 
sound  public  policy  would  require  that  such  transactions  be  not 
encouraged.  Certainly  those  who  were  by  reason  of  their  relation 
of  agency,  standing  in  the  place  of  the  seller  and  the  real  buyer, 
should  not  adopt  any  rules  which  would  encourage  such  trans- 
actions. On  the  contrary,  correct  business  economy  would  de- 
mand that  all  rules  which  might  be  established  with  reference  to 
trading  in  the  commodity  should  limit  such  operations  as  much  as 
possible.  There  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  sound  business 
economy  and  justice  of  this.  No  man  has  the  right  to  withhold 
his  money  and  energies  from  the  legitimate  avenues  of  trade  and 
business  with  reference  to  a  commodity,  and  then  burden  the 
price  of  that  commodity  with  a  profit  to  himself,  made  upon  the 
correctness  of  his  forecast  of  the  effect  upon  the  price  of  that 
commodity  of  the  acts  of  others.  Economy  and  common  sense 
agree  to  the  correctness  of  this  proposition.  Certainly  when  an 
association  of  men  appropriate  the  market  facilities  of  a  place,  and 
engage  in  the  business  of  selling  and  buying  commodities  for 
their  clients,  duty  of  agent  to  principal  requires  them  to  act  for 
the  best  interest  of  their  principals,  both  in  making  transactions 
for  them  and  in  making  rules  which  are  to  govern  the  making  of 
such  transactions.  These  duties  are  fundamental,  and  underlie 
all  the  relations  of  agent  and  principal.  Every  court  in  the  civil- 
ized world  has  declared  these  duties  to  exist  in  the  very  nature  of 
that  relation.  It  has  been  the  common  law  in  England  from 
time  immemorial,  and  has  been  the  law  in  America  since  govern- 
ment begun  here.  It  is  founded  in  necessity,  is  required  by  good 
conscience,  and  inheres  in  the  very  nature  of  the  relation  of  prin- 
cipal and  agent.  No  departure  from  this  can  be  justified,  nor  can 
it  fail  to  result  in  harm  because  it  is  violative  of  the  fundamental 
law  of  business  and  erood  conscience  as  well. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  63 

All  institutions  must  progress  or  retrograde,  but  they  can 
progress  only  in  conformity  with  the  immutable  laws  by  which 
they  are  governed.  An  institution  like  an  exchange  which  has 
grown  out  of  the  necessities  of  that  part  of  the  trading  public 
who  buy  and  sell  the  commodity  sold  through  exchanges,  must 
develop  along  those  lines  which  will  make  it  most  useful  to  that 
part  of  the  trading  public.  Any  change  in  its  methods  should 
add  to  its  perfection  as  the  place  where  the  man  who  wants  to 
sell  a  commodity,  may  sell  it,  and  where  the  man  who  wants  to 
buy,  may  buy.  There  never  has  been  any  true  development  along 
artificial  lines.  It  may  look  all  right  when  examined  superficially, 
but  it  is  not  all  right.  It  is  violative  of  law,  and  somelx)dy  must 
pay  the  penalty.  In  the  very  nature  of  things,  exchanges  which 
perform  a  quasi  public  function,  must  be  conducted  for  the  benefit 
of  the  public ;  and  it  is  only  in  compensation  for  the  services  ren- 
dered the  public  that  the  members  of  an  exchange  are  entitled 
to  compensation. 

The  chief  functions  of  an  exchange  is  to  eliminate  intervening 
transactions  and  expenses  from  between  the  producer  and  the 
consumer.  An  exchange  can  improve  only  as  it  brings  them 
more  and  more  directly  and  economically  into  trading  contact  with 
each  other,  and  as  its  public  reports  more  and  more  faithfully 
show  the  truth  with  reference  to  transactions  made  there.  When- 
ever it  is  discovered  that  an  exchange  is  getting  further  and 
further  from  this,  its  fundamental  purpose,  it  may  be  know  with 
absolute  certainty  that  instead  of  improving,  it  is  retrograding. 
Either  its  management  is  incompetent  or  dishonest,  or  it  is  violat- 
ing the  fundamental  laws  of  business  which  fix  its  functions. 
Since  its  functions  have  been  so  long  recognized  and  the  laws  of 
business  which  govern  them  have  come  to  be  so  well  known,  it 
is  not  probable  that  an  intelligent  management  would  permit  a 
violation  unless  some  opportunity  for  personal  gain  should  offer 
a  temptation  so  great  that  those  in  control  would  yield  thereto. 
This  thing  not  infrequently  occurs  in  the  ordinary  relations  be- 
tween agent  and  principal.  It  is  not  improbable  that  it  would 
occur  in  the  affairs  of  an  exchange.  It  is  not  usually  in  a  de- 
parture from  correct  transactions  that  the  departure  be  radical  at 
first,  but  once  the  departure  is  made,  so  long  as  it  is  continued, 
the  distance  from  correct  methods  increases  until  after  a  while 
they  become  far  separated.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  legiti- 
mate must  be  stimulated  and  cultivated  if  it  is  to  grow.  The 
illegitimate  once  planted,  grows  of  its  own  accord,  and  unless  up- 
rooted will  finally  choke  out  the  legitimate.    This  is  fundamental. 


64  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

in  character,  in  business,  in  cultivated  fields,  it  matters  not  where, 
it  is  true.  Useful  crops  must  be  cultivated.  Noxious  weeds  and 
g-rasses  grow  of  their  own  accord,  and  if  permitted  free  growth, 
will  choke  out  the  useful  crops  among  which  they  grow. 

BEGINNING   OF   THE  DESTRUCTION   OF   EXCHANGES. 

Several  years  ago  our  American  Exchanges  were  places  where 
the  buyer  and  seller  met  and  traded  in  actual  commodities.  The 
gambler  came  to  these  exchanges  and  offered  to  pay  those  who 
controlled  them  just  the  same  commission  which  they  were  re- 
ceiving for  making  bona  fide  transactions  in  the  actual  commodity. 
These  gambling  transactions  were  much  easier  to  handle  than  the 
bona  fide  transactions.  By  afifording  facilities  for  them  it  was 
seen  that  they  would  become  practically  unlimited,  and  large 
revenue  would  come  to  those  who  had  the  exclusive  right  of 
agency  in  making  them.  It  was  perhaps  not  intended  when  these 
transactions  were  first  made  that  they  should  choke  out  the  legiti- 
mate ones,  but  the  volume  of  business  increased  by  reason  of 
them.  The  right  of  agency  (membership)  in  these  exchanges 
became  more  valuable,  more  men  purchased  the  right  to  make 
such  sales,  and  sometimes  the  very  agents  themselves  made  these 
transactions  in  their  own  behalf.  Duty  to  the  real  trading  public 
and  their  rights  was  lost  sight  of,  and  members  came  to  consider 
that  they  had  bought  the  right  to  act  as  agents  in  making  these 
transactions,  and  had  the  right  to  make  such  rules  as  would  stimu- 
late them  and  bring  to  themselves  larger  profits. 

Wire-houses  were  established  throughout  the  country,  and 
every  inducement  and  every  facility  was  offered  for  the  making 
of  these  gambling  transactions.  By  false  education  people  were 
taught  that  they  were  legitimate.  Today  we  observe  the  result. 
The  legitimate  has  been  choked  out,  and  the  illegitimate  has 
.grown  to  enormous  strength  and  proportions.  There  is  the  barest 
evidence  left  of  what  once  flourished  in  these  exchanges.  In  their 
effort  to  justify  conditions,  the  apologist  for  the  exchanges  point 
to  the  feeble  remnant  of  that  which  once  flourished.  Like  a  field 
in  which  corn  has  been  planted,  but  which  the  husbandman  in 
charge  has  never  cultivated,  here  and  there  may  be  found  a  puny 
little  stalk  struggling  among  the  rank  grown  weeds  to  respond 
to  nature's  requirement,  but  if  there  is  any  fruition,  it  will  not  be 
worth  the  harvesting. 

So  with  the  exchange.  Here  and  there  in  the  wild  tangle  of 
gambling   transactions    may    be    found    a    relatively    insignificant 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  65 

legitimate  one,  but  as  the  nci^lccted  cornfield  does  not  present  the 
appearance  of  a  cornfield,  but  of  a  weed  field,  so  does  the  exchange 
not  present  the  appearance  of  an  exchange,  but  of  a  gambling 
house.  By  search  you  may  find  a  stalk  of  corn  in  the  one,  and  by 
search  you  may  find  a  legitimate  transaction  in  the  other.  As 
the  husbandman  who  was  ijitrusted  with  the  cultivation  of  one 
has  clearly  failed  to  discharge  his  duty,  so  has  the  management 
which  has  had  charge  of  the  other  failed  to  discharge  its  duty. 

Is  there  any  mystery  connected  with  these  results?  If  it  should 
be  known  that  by  some  artificial  arrangement  the  farmer  in  charge 
of  the  cornfield  could  get  as  great  profit  from  each  weed  as  he 
could  get  from  each  stalk  of  corn,  would  there  remain  any  mystery 
as  to  why  he  had  permitted  it  to  grow  up  in  weeds  ?  Would  not 
this  also  actually  explain  why  he  had  gathered  weed  seeds  and 
sown  them  among  the  corn  which  was  originally  planted  in  clear 
soil?  If  it  should  be  known,  as  it  is  known,  that  the  members 
operating  on  the  exchanges  get  as  much  profit  from  each  gam- 
bling transaction  as  from  each  legitimate  transaction,  does  there 
any  longer  remain  a  mystery  why  conditions  with  reference  to 
the  exchanges  as  we  find  them  today?  Does  it  not  explain  the 
existence  of  the  wire-house  (the  medium  by  which  the  gambling 
transactions  are  gathered  and  sown  among  the  legitimate  ones?) 

Is  not  the  cause  which  produces  this  deterioration  clear?  Does 
not  its  discover}'  suggest  the  remedy?  but  the  apologist  for  the 
present  niethods  in  our  exchanges,  who  have  been  compelled  to 
admit  the  presence  of  a  large  volume  of  gambling  transactions, 
and  a  small  volume  of  transactions  closed  by  actual  delivery  of 
the  commodity  (which  shows  them  to  be  in  the  last  ditch  of  their 
defenses),  are  endeavoring  to  prevent  an  entire  eradication  of 
gambling  transactions.  The  reason  for  this  is  apparent,  and  is 
founded  upon  motives  of  self-preservation.  Since  they  have  rela- 
tively such  a  small  volume  of  legitimate  business,  it  is  clear  to 
them  that  their  number  is  so  large  in  proportion  to  the  business 
which  they  would  have  left,  that  at  least  some  of  them  will  be 
forced  to  other  vocations. 

niPOSSIBLE   OF   DEFENSE. 

We  have  treated  t.his  phase  of  the  subject  for  the  reason  that 
there  is  no  certainty  that  by  the  time  this  volume  shall  have  left 
the  publisher,  the  defenders  of  the  present  methods  of  the  ex- 
changes will  be  oftering  the  same  arguments  now  made  by  them. 
But  no  argument  can  be  ofifered  which  will  overcome  the  fact  that 
they  are  wrong  in  principle,  and  are  violating  economic  law  ;  nor 


66  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

can  they  argue  away  the  fact  that  the  penalty  of  violated  law 
cannot  be  escaped.  Men  may  evade  statutes  enacted  by  men,  but 
they  cannot  evade  laws  which  inhere  in  the  very  nature  of  men's 
relations. 

SOME    SPECIFIC    OBJECTIONS    TO    GAMBLING. 

Before  leaving  this  subject  it  is  well  to  examine  some  of  the 
specific  objections  to  gambling  in  the  price  of  farm  products.  Ir- 
respective of  the  welfare  of  the  producer,  gambling  in  farm  pro- 
ducts, like  other  species  of  gambling,  is  contrary  to  sound  public 
policy,  and  for  that  reason  it  is  the  duty  of  the  government,  in  so 
far  as  possible,  to  suppress  it.  This  is  axiomatic.  It  is  immedi- 
ately approved  by  the  conscience  and  observation  of  men.  No 
magic,  by  words  or  power  of  argument,  can  shake  this  proposi- 
tion or  break  its  force.  The  claim  that  it  is  a  mere  sentimental 
theory  cannot  do  it. 

During  the  existence  of  wire-houses  in  the  South,  innumerable 
instances  occurred  where  men  known  to  those  who  read  this 
volume,  yielding  to  the  temptation  afforded  by  these  institutions 
to  gamble  in  futures,  squandered  their  money,  and  that  of  other 
people  which  they  were  able  to  get  possession  of,  and  brought 
sorrow  and  shame  to  their  families.  It  was  the  frequency  of  such 
occurrences  which  aroused  the  sentiment  which  finally  banished 
these  institutions  from  most  of  the  Southern  States.  These  trans- 
actions were  all  made  on  the  exchanges.  It  was  there  the  money 
was  lost,  and  it  was  through  them  that  character  was  destroyed. 
The  wire-houses  being  only  a  convenient  medium.  The  claim 
that  these  transactions  were  legitimate,  induced  many  men  to 
gamble  in  futures  who  would  not  have  patronized  a  game  of  con- 
fessed illegitimacy.  History  has  taught  over  and  over  again  that 
nothing  is  good  for  the  material  interest  of  a  people  which  is 
detrimental  to  public  morals.  This  is  not  a  statement  prompted 
by  sentiment.  It  is  a  bold,  strong  truth,  settled  beyond  all  ques- 
tion by  the  history  of  men,  and  was  re-confirmed  by  the  effect  of 
gambling  on  the  price  of  farm  products.  From  the  beginning  of 
authentic  history  there  is  not  recorded  one  exception,  and  there 
never  will  be.  This  should  address  itself  with  great  force  to  the 
consideration  of  statesmen  and  patriots  as  distinguished  from 
time-serving  politicians  and  short-sighted  men.  It  fully  meets  all 
argument  that  gambling  in  futures  is  beneficial.  Viewed  from  a 
purely  material  standpoint,  such  a  thing  is  fundamentally  impos- 
sible. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  67 

MATERIAL   INJURIES. 

But  we  do  not  rest  our  opposition  here.  We  shall  endeavor  to 
show  some  of  the  specific  material  injuries  which  have  resulted 
from  gambling-  in  farm  products.  The  writer  is  more  familiar 
with  conditions  which  surround  the  producing  and  marketing  of 
cotton  than  that  of  any  other  commodity.  But  what  is  true  with 
reference  to  that  commodity  is  true  as  to  all  other  agricultural 
commodities  sold  on  exchanges.  We  have  already  considered  the 
effect  of  gambling  upon  the  exchanges  themselves.  It  is  clear 
that  their  utility  as  mediums  for  barter  and  trade  has  been  prac- 
tically destroyed  by  these  illegal  practices. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  there  is  nothing  personal  or  in- 
stitutional in  this  movement  to  abolish  gambling  in  futures.  That 
these  evils  are  prevalent  in  certain  institutions,  or  that  certain  in- 
dividuals happen  to  be  associated  with  them  is  purely  incidental. 
Doubtless  many  of  these  men  have  practically  grown  up  in  these 
institutions,  and  it  has  never  occurred  to  them  to  seriously  ques- 
tion their  methods. 

We  of  the  South  who  grew  up  with  the  institution  of  slavery, 
believed  it  to  be  both  right  and  necessary  to  the  industrial  pros- 
perity of  the  South.  Experience  has  taught  us  that  it  was  not 
best  for  us,  but  life-long  association  with  the  conditions  produced 
by  that  institution,  rendered  us  unable  to  see  its  harmful  tenden- 
cies. 

Many  members  of  the  exchanges  seem  unable  to  appreciate  the 
true  character  of  the  volume  of  their  transactions.  They  speak 
of  them  as  "speculations."  They  claim  that  the  producer  is  op- 
posed to  speculation.  In  this  they  are  mistaken.  The  producer 
has  never  contended  that  speculation  in  his  products  should  be 
abolished.  Such  a  contention  would  be  absurd  ?  On  the  contrary, 
he  recognizes  that  the  right  of  all  men  to  purchase  what  they 
choose  must  remain  inviolate,  in  so  long  as  they  do  not  do  so  for 
monopolistic  or  other  unjust  purposes.  A  certain  amount  of  specu- 
lation has  a  tendency  to  prevent  rather  than  destroy  stability  of 
prices. 

DIVERTS  LEGITIMATE  SPECULATION. 

One  of  the  farmer's  complaints  is  that  gambling  in  the  price 
of  his  commodities  divert  from  them  legitimate  speculative  in- 
vestments in  them  which  they  would  naturally  attract  when  their 
price  is  depressed  because  of  lack  of  present  demand  for  con- 
sunKptive  purposes.  Many  of  those  who  now  wager  that  the  price 
will  advance,  would  probably  make  purchases  of  the  commodity 


68  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

and  hold  same  for  the  advance.  When  this  condition  is  reached 
now  with  reference  to  cotton,  for  instance,  instead  of  buying  the 
actual  cotton,  they  go  to  so-called  brokers  and  each  put  up  $200 
as  margins,  and  make  a  so-called  purchase  of  futures,  paying  the 
brokers  $7.50  as  commission.  When  the  transactions  are  closed, 
each  pays  another  $7.50  as  commission,  making  a  total  in  each 
transaction  of  $215  involved.  Suppose  that  20,000  of  these  trans- 
actions from  the  South  are  pending  at  one  time.  That  would 
mean  a  removal  .from  the  section  where  cotton  is  produced  of 
$4,000,000  put  up  as  margins,  and  $300,000  absolutely  gone  as 
commissions  to  the  so-called  broker,  and  the  attention  and  energy 
of  the  people  expended  on  these  future  transactions  instead  of 
upon  spot  cotton,  though  it  all  comes  from  the  belief  that  cotton 
is  a  good  purchase. 

Experiences  in  the  South  have  also  shown  that  it  is  highly 
probable  that  a  large  part  of  the  $4,000,000  will  never  again  reach 
the  men  who  put  it  up. 

Practically  all  of  these  transactions  originate  in  the  South.  It 
is  universally  admitted  that  non-professional  ''speculators'"  are 
almost  without  exception  bulls.  This  money  having  gone  from 
the  South  to  the  control  of  those  connected  with  the  exchanges, 
its  withdrawal  from  available  funds  in  the  South  necessarily 
weakens  the  South's  ability  to  care  for  its  "distressed"  cotton. 
There  is  no  cotton  seeking  market  involved  in  the  transaction. 
The  only  cotton  involved — and  that  is  only  theoretically  involved — 
is  the  stock  held  in  the  w'arehouses  controlled  by  the  exchanges, 
and  held  largely  to  facilitate  these  gambling  transactions.  No- 
body expects  any  cotton  to  be  delivered  on  them.  We  don't  have 
to  call  in  an  expert  or  read  the  rules  of  the  exchanges  in  order  to 
know  this.  We  of  the  South  who  live  among  the  people  who  have 
made  these  transactions,  don't  have  to  speculate  or  theorize.  We 
know  that  it  is  substantially  correct  to  say  that  not  one  bale  of 
cotton  is  really  involved  in  these  transactions.  Our  neighbors 
have  made  them  for  years,  and  none  of  them  have  ever  gotten 
any  cotton.  What  would  a  man  in  the  South  want  with  cotton 
in  New  York  or  in  New  Orleans? 

DESTROYS    ST.^BII.ITY    OF    MARKET. 

The  prorluccr  objects  to  gambling  in  futures  because  it  de- 
stroys the  stability  of  the  market  in  w^hich  he  must  sell,  and  de- 
prives him  of  the  opportunity  to  apply  the  rules  of  business  in 
governing  him  in  the  marketing  of  his  products.     Observation  Of 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  69 

the  market  reports  disclose  that  there  are  w  ide  and  erratic  tluctua- 
tions  in  the  price  of  farm  products  which  liave  not  been  produced 
by  any  change  of  business  conditions,  and  which  have  not  been 
occasioned  by  the  operation  of  the  laws  of  legitimate  business. 
In  a  large  measure  these  fluctuations  are  the  result  of  gambling 
in  the  price  of  the  commodity. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  non-professional  "speculators" 
are  bulls — at  least  they  are  flatteringly  called  bulls.  It  appears 
from  an  excerpt  of  the  testimony  of  a  member  of  the  New  York 
Exchange  taken  by  the  Commission  of  Corporations,  page  337, 
Part  I,  of.  its  report  on  Cotton  Exchanges,  "the  outsider  who 
speculates  is  a  buyer  always,"  and  since  for  every  purchase  of  a 
future  contract,  there  must  be  a  corresponding  sale,  it  follows 
that  the  other  side  of  the  bets  are  taken  by  those  who  are  pro- 
fessionals. 

Thus  we  have  a  large  number  of  non-professionals,  pursuing 
many  callings,  scattered  over  a  vast  area,  acting  without  system  or 
understanding,  betting  with  a  small  number  of  men  possessed  of 
all  information  necessary,  fitted  by  years  of  training,  acting  in 
concert,  and  usually  following  the  lead  of  one,  or  a  very  few  men. 
In  a  case  where  the  total  of  transactions  is  20,000,  there  would  l^e 
practically  $8,000,000  wagered  upon  whether  cotton  will  go  up  or 
down.  If  it  goes  up,  the  professional  will  lose.  If  it  goes  down, 
they  will  win.  The  relative  advantage  of  the  professionals  is 
manifest.  It  is  their  own  game.  They  make  their  living  from 
its  winnings,  whereas  the  non-professionals  make  their  money  in 
other  vocations  and  lose  it  here. 

If  this  were  merely  a  wager  to  be  determined  by  the  normal 
action  of  the  market,  the  cotton  producers  would  have  only  the 
complaint  that  money  was  tied  up.  and  eventually  lost  in  these 
wagering  transactions  which  but  for  them  would  probable  be 
invested  in  actual  cotton. 

But  these  wagers  are  not  always  determined  by  the  natural 
effect  of  market  conditions  upon  prices.  The  stake  involved  is  so 
large  that  these  professionals  who  have  bet  that  the  market  will 
go  down,  yield  to  the  temptation  offered  by  this  large  sum  of 
money,  and  by  manipulation  of  the  market  depress  the  price  of 
the  commodity  in  order  that  they  may  win.  Who  can  doubt  that 
they  will  bring  to  bear  all  the  power  which  they  command  to  ac- 
complish this  result?  In  other  words,  the  temptation  afforded  by 
the  large  amount  of  money  involved  in  these  wagers,  offers  a 
great  temptation  to  an  organized  bear  clique  to  depress  the  price 
of  the  actual  commoilitv  in  the  hands  of  men  whose  labor  has 


70  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

created  it,  and  who  have  had  no  part  in  these  gambhng  trans- 
actions. 

This  is  manifestly  unjust  and  injurious  to  the  cotton  producer. 
Suppose  that  a  bull  clique  should  get  control  and  prices  are  forced 
to  an  abnormal  height?  This  is  clearly  unjust  to  the  consumer, 
and  in  the  long  run  works  no  good  to  the  producer  or  even  to  the 
outside  speculator  who  is  able  to  win  with  them.  The  producer 
will  probably  be  encouraged  by  the  abnormal  high  price  to  plant 
too  great  an  acreage  the  next  year,  and  by  over-production  break 
the  market ;  besides  these  abnormal  high  prices  are  calculated  to 
create  all  sorts  of  extravagant  calculations  and  expenditures  on 
the  part  of  the  producer,  and  ultimately  hurt  him,  and  the  bankers, 
merchants,  and  all  others  with  whom  he  has  business  transactions. 
These  occasional  winnings  do  the  outside  "speculator"  no  perma- 
nent good.  As  is  always  the  case  where  money  is  acquired  by 
such  methods,  the  man  who  gets  it  is  unbalanced  thereby.  His 
relish  for  gain  by  honest  means  is  impaired,  and  he  is  usually  lead 
bv  the  winning  to  make  other  wagers  with  inevitable  disastrous 
results.  The  sum  total  of  these  transactions  is  that  money  and 
energy  are  diverted  from  the  channels  of  legitimate  enterprise. 
Injury  is  done  to  the  business  and  character  of  those  engaged  in 
these  illegitimate  transactions,  and  the  stability  of  the  market  in 
which  agriculture,  the  basic  vocation  of  the  nation,  must  sell  its 
products,  is  destroyed,  and  men  who  follow  this  vocation  find  that 
business  judgment  and  foresight  can  avail  them  but  little  in  this 
market  where  the  laws  of  business  do  not  apply  except  to  a  limited 
extent.  They  cannot  calculate.  They  do  not  know  what  to  do. 
They  cannot  form  an  intelligent  opinion  as  to  how  they  should 
divide  their  crops  or  when  to  market  them.  This  in  the  very 
nature  of  things,  producing  more  or  less  haphazard  sort  of  meth- 
ods which  are  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  farmer,-  and  are  con- 
trary to  the  general  business  interests  of  the  country. 

DIFFICULT    TO   APPLY    BUSINESS. 

Farmers  are  now  making  an  effort  to  apply  business  methods 
to  their  business.  In  the  writer's  opinion,  this  lack  of  stable 
market  which  is  largely  produced  as  the  direct  and  indirect  effect 
of  gambling  in  futures,  is  the  strongest  reason,  viewed  from  an 
industrial  standpoint,  why  gambling  in  futures  should  be  abol- 
ished. 

The  natural  and  business-like  method  would  be  for  the  farmer 
to  sell  when  his  products  are  wanted  for  consumptive  purposes, 
but  since  the  market  is  unnatural,  it  is  n(5t  possible  to  rely  on 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  71 

natural  business  rules  to  govern  in  operations  in  the  market.  As 
a  result,  farmers  usually  sell  their  entire  crop  as  soon  as  gathered, 
which  inevitably  produces  a  glutted  market  with  resultant  de- 
pressed prices,  and  produces  a  tremendous  strain  upon  all  of  our 
financial  institutions,  and  upon  the  railroads  which  must  move 
these  crops  in  a  short  space  of  time,  resulting  not  only  in  a  general 
financial  stringency  and  inconvenience  to  those  whose  business 
requires  accommodation  by  financial  institutions ;  and  also  great 
inconvenience  to  merchants,  manufacturers,  etc.,  who  require  the 
use  of  shipping  facilities  but  the  railroads  are  required  to  provide 
facilities  for  handling  this  great  volume  of  freight  in  a  short 
length  of  time,  wdiich,  when  the  crops  are  moved,  must  in  part, 
remain  relatively  idle.  The  shipping  public  must  pay  interest  on 
the  money  invested  in  this  idle  equipment,  and  the  shipping  pub- 
lic in  turn  collects  this  money  from  the  consumers  of  the  things 
shipped, 

THE   SOUTH's  great   PURCHASING   POWER. 

Notwithstanding  this  fact,  it  is  contended  that  to  suppress  gam- 
bling would  injure  the  price  of  cotton,  and  it  is  claimed  that  the 
decrease  of  gambling  caused  by  the  elimination  of  the  wire-house 
has  already  done  so.  This  is  in  line  with  the  stock  argument  of 
the  exchange  advocates  which  was  met  with  on  every  hand  dur- 
ing the  campaigns  in  the  South,  which  resulted  in  eliminating  the 
wire-houses  from  most  of  the  Southern  States.  It  is  not  capable 
of  establishment,  and  has  been  many  times  refuted,  but  they 
have  not  abandoned  it,  presumably  because  they  have  no  better 
to  ofifer.  It  is  so  palpably  absurd,  and  is  so  clearly  an  effort  to 
toll  the  "lambs"  in  to  be  sheared, 'and  is  so  entirely  impossible  of 
establishment  that  it  would  not  be  noticed  except  that  there  are 
good  men  who  yet  believe  it  to  be  true.  They  say  that  cotton  is 
cheaper  now  than  then.  That  proves  nothing.  So  are  many 
other  things.  Let  us  examine  again  these  future  transactions  on- 
the  part  of  non-professionals  scattered  through  the  South,  with 
a  view  of  ascertaining  their  effect  upon  the  price  of  spot  cotton. 

PUTS  A  PREMIUM   ON  BEAR  MANIPULATIONS. 

We  have  already  shown  its  eft'ect  so'  far  as  it  withdraws 
money  and  energy,  which  but  for  such  Withdrawal,  might  reason- 
ably be  expected  to  protect  cotton  prices  and  relieve  "distressed" 
cotton  from  forced  sale ;  and  it  may  be  observed  that  during  the 
recent  financial  panic  more  support  was  given  cotton  than  ever 
before. 


72 


MISSION".   HISTORY   AND  TIMES 


STATE    OFFICIALS,     OKLAHOMA     DIVISION. 

].  WiLiJAM   GAitmsoN,   Slate   President. 

'_'.   \V.  F.  I'.Ki.DicN,  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 

.-..  W.  II.  A.  IlAitRisoN.  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 

4.   P..  F.  DoijcLAS,  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 

Vi.   Fkkkman  U.  S.mitii,  Vice-President. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  73 

Let  us  again  suppose  that  there  are  20,000  transactions  pend- 
ing, which  represent  the  "purchases"  by  those  non-professionals, 
flatteringly  called,  of  "The  South's  Great  Purchasing  Power" — 
20,000  bets  made  that  the  price  of  cotton  will  go  up.  No  cotton 
is  bought.  No  delivery  is  expected.  Everybody  understands 
this.  There  is,  therefore,  no  actual  cotton  which  is  seeking  market, 
required  in  these  transactions.  The  people  making  them  expect 
to  hold  them  for  a  while,  and  then  close  out  by  making  a  "sale." 
Thus  we  have  20.000  purchases  and  20,000  sales ;  20.000  trans- 
actions on  the  bull  side,  and  an  equal  amount  on  the  bear  side. 
Those  making  them  are  not  acting  in  concert,  and  these  trans- 
actions of  buying  and  selling  go  on  more  or  less  indiscriminately. 
Where  then  is  the  net  bull  effect  of  these  operations  ?  The  stake 
involved  in  20,000  bets  would  be  practically  $8,000,000.  Four 
million  dollars  put  up  by  a  lot  of  men  of  many  callings,  scattered 
over  a  vast  area,  with  relatively  few  professionals,  that  cotton 
prices  will  advance,  or  that  cotton  prices  will  not  become  lower 
either  by  the  operation  of  natural  laws  of  business  or  through 
manipulation.  It  is  a  bet  that  the  professionals  cannot  by  manipu- 
lation force  the  price  down.  Now  this  is  what  the  "Great  Pur- 
chasing Power  of  the  South"  actually  does.  If  the  men  with 
whom  they  make  the  bet,  do,  by  manipulation,  force  prices  down, 
the  "Purchasing  Power  of  the  South"  loses.  Now  the  "Great 
Purchasing  Povv'er"  goes  back  to  its  several  vocations,  but  the 
professionals  who  have  taken  the  bear  side  of  the  bet  have  no 
other  vocation  to  go  to — at  least,  this  is  a  considerable  part  of 
their  business ;  they  are  professionals,  and  their  business  is  to  win 
this  bet.    It  is  their  game — they  know  all  its  mysteries. 

\\*hat  could  be  more  absurd  than  to  contend  that  these  poor 
victims  are  protecting  the  price  of  cotton?  Certainly  they  do  not 
realize  it,  but  in  their  efiforts  in  the  "future  market,"  they  are 
afifording  the  price  of  spot  cotton  just  that  character  of  protection 
which  would  be  alTorded  a  building  by  the  acts  of  its  watchman 
who  places  $4,000,000  inside  of  it,  and  after  advertising  the  fact 
that  the  money  is  on  the  inside,  and  that  whoever  breaks  in  can 
get  it.  abandons  the  building.  This  is  what  the  "South's  Great 
Purchasing  Power"  does.  Instead  of  protecting  prices,  they  actu- 
ally put  up  a  $4,000,000  purse  to  be  paid  in  the  event  those  with 
whom  they  bet,  or  any  one  else,  succeed  in  forcing  prices  down. 

It  is  this  game  which  is  opposed  by  the  producers  of  America, 
and  is  favored  by  the  exchange  interest  for  obvious  reasons,  and 
by  a  few  men  in  the  South  for  no  reason  that  the  mind  of  man 
can  suggest. 


74  MISSION_,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

HEDGING. 

This  is  a  term  used  to  designate  that  character  of  transaction 
on  the  future  board  whereby  a  man,  for  instance,  who  has  bought 
100  bales  of  spot  cotton,  sells  loo  bales  for  future  delivery,  or  a 
manufacturer  who  has  made  a  bona  fide  contract  to  deliver  cotton 
goods  at  a  future  time,  buys  an  amount  of  cotton  on  the  future 
board  equal  to  the  amount  necessary  to  make  the  goods  sold  by 
him.  In  both  transactions  no  delivery  is  contemplated  with  refer- 
ence to  the  transactions  made  on  the  future  board. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  cotton  market  is  so  erratic  and  uncertain 
that  it  is  necessary  to  make  these  hedging  transactions  as  a  kind 
of  insurance  against  loss  through  fluctuation.  It  is  true  that  the 
market  is  erratic,  and  without  further  discussion  of  that  phase,  we 
shall  call  attention  to  some  serious  objections  to  "hedging."  In 
the  first  place,  it  is  an  artificial  arrangement  which  seeks  to  relieve 
men  from  such  business  hazards  as  arise  ordinarily  in  the  course 
of  business,  and  which  themselves  stimulate  the  exercise  and  de- 
velopment of  qualities  of  prudence  and  correct  business  judgment, 
and  places  additional  hazard  upon  the  producers,  and  places  upon 
the  producers  or  consumers,  or  both,  the  expense  of  these  hedges 
which  are  variously  estimated  at  from  five  to  ten  million  dollars 
per  annum.  These  hedging  transactions  have  no  direct  connec- 
tion with  those  by  which  cotton  is  bought  and  sold.  There  is  no 
reason  or  necessity  why  the  cotton  manufacturer  who  sells  his 
products  for  future  delivery,  could  not  purchase  at  the  same  time 
of  making  the  sale,  which  is  usually  during  January,  cotton  neces- 
sary to  make  his  cloth  from.  (He  would  not  sell  so  far  in  ad- 
vance, perhaps  as  he  does  now.  At  least  he  would  not  sell  goods 
to  be  manufactured  from  cotton  not  yet  in  existence.  There  is 
no  necessity  why  he  should.)  When  he  purchases  later,  he  must, 
by  the  laws  of  business,  pay  the  price  which  cotton  was  worth  in 
January,  plus  the  cost  of  carriage  to  the  date  of  delivery  to  him, 
and  the  profit  made  by  the  man  from  whom  he  purchased.  It 
would  be  to  the  advantage  of  the  producer  were  the  manufacturer 
to  fortify  himself  against  loss,  by  an  actual  purchase  of  the  com- 
modity rather  than  by  a  hedge  on  a  future  board.  The  producer 
would  thereby  have  an  earlier  market  for  consumptive  purposes. 

There  is  another  objection  to  hedging.  It  has  a  great  tendency 
toward  instability  of  market.  When  cotton  is  hedged  by  the 
owner  thereof,  he  has  lost  all  incentive  to  protect  its  price.  Sup- 
pose he  purchases  cotton  at  ten  cents  and  hedges  it,  and  cotton 
goes  down  two  cents  per  pound  ?     He  is  indififerent.     What  he 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  75 

has  lost  on  his  spots,  he  has  made  on  his  futures.  In  theory,  the 
man  who  holds  the  contract  which  has  been  sold  against  the  spots, 
is  as  much  interested  in  protectinsT;  the  price  of  spots  as  the  man 
would  have  been  had  he  not  sold  a  hedge  against  it.  But  what- 
ever may  be  his  interest  in  theory,  in  practice  it  is  not  true  that 
he  has  such  a  direct  interest.  He  has  no  idea  what  particular  lot 
of  cotton  this  hedge  was  sold  against.  The  hedge  does  not  repre- 
sent any  particular  cotton,  and  besides,  he  does  not  have  the 
ability  to  protect  the  price.  He  does  not  have  the  cotton  in  his 
control.  If  the  man  who  had  paid  ten  cents  for  it,  had  not  sold 
a  hedge  against  it,  he  would  not  sell  for  eight  cents  unless  he  were 
in  great  financial  distress.  He  would  hold  a  long  time  first,  but 
having  hedged,  he  would  just  as  soon  sell  at  eight  cents  under  a 
decline  of  two  cents  per  pound,  as  to  sell  at  twelve  cents  under 
an  advance  of  two  cents  per  pound,  the  parity  between  spots 
and  futures  remaining  constant. 

This  cotton  held  by  men  who  have  lost  all  interest  in  protecting 
its  price,  endangers  the  price  of  all  cotton  yet  in  the  hands  of 
the  producer.  If,  after  the  crop  has  been  marketed  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  every  man  who  had  purchased  cotton  would 
suffer  loss  were  he  to  sell  for  a  price  lower  than  that  at  which  he 
had  purchased,  it  would  not  be  easy  to  get  cotton  at  reduced 
values.  This  is  evident.  In  this  way  would  prices  become  more 
stable,  and  by  the  elimination  of  gambling,  which  is  itself  largely 
responsible  for  instability  of  the  market,  and  by  making  each 
holder  sufifer  loss  if  a  decline  occurred,  whatever  necessity  there 
may  be  at  this  time  to  hedge,  would  be  practically  wiped  out,  and 
the  burden  of  carrying  cotton  would  be  divided  between  the  pro- 
ducer and  the  consumer.  The  producer  would  not  crowd  the 
whole  business  machinery  by  rushing  his  entire  crop  to  market 
as  soon  as  gathered.  By  holding  it  for  consumptive  demand,  it 
would  not  go  abroad  in  advance  of  that  demand  to  be  held  by 
foreign  speculators  until  the  mills  wanted  it.  This  profit  would 
very  materially  add  to  our  own  balance  of  trade. 

This  system  of  future  sales  and  hedging  against  them,  forces 
the  producer  to  bear  all  the  hazard  of  the  cotton  business.  The 
price  of  his  commodity  is  largely  fixed  by  these  future  sales.  For 
instance,  suppose  the  manufacturers  should  agree  to  sell  for 
future  delivery,  goods  which  must  be  manufactured  from  a  crop 
yet  to  be  made,  and  had  protected  themselves  by  the  purchase  of 
hedges.  Suppose  these  future  sales  are  made  on  the  basis  of  ten 
cents  per  pound.  We  then  have  a  condition  where  the  crop  has 
already  been  sold  for  ten  cents  per  pound.    It  is  true,  in  a  quali- 


76  MISSION;,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

fied  sense,  that  the  farmer  may  sell  futures  at  this  price  and 
thereby  guarantee  himself  ten  cents  per  pound  for  his  cotton. 
But  suppose  it  zverc  absolutely  true,  ivhere  can  lie  buy  or  sell  a 
hedge  zvhich  zi.'ill  guarantee  the  volume  or  quality  of  his  yield? 
This  is  one  of  the  natural  elements  which  should  control  his  price, 
and  if  he  hedge,  the  effect  of  this  is  destroyed.  It  is  here  that  the 
burden  of  the  system  of  future  sales  and  hedging  falls.  Can  he 
hedge  against  a  half  crop?  It  is  true  that  the  producers  have  the 
power,  by  concerted  action,  to  overturn  the  arbitrary  prices  which 
have  been  fixed  in  advance  upon  their  products,  and  they  are  being 
driven  by  the  injustice  of  the  present  method  of  fixing  crop 
values  to  resort  to  concerted  efforts,  but  it  would  be  far  better  for 
all  concerned  that  this  necessity  did  not  exist.  If  the  producers 
are  forced  to  combine  for  agreed  prices,  it  is  probable  that  things 
will  occur  before  the  struggle  is  ended  which  will  not  tend  to 
promote  either  business  or  social  peace  in  this  country.  It  is  a 
reflection  upon  the  business  ability  of  the  country  to  say  that  if 
the  same  thought  had  been  applied  to  the  development  of  a  natural 
method  of  marketing  cotton  and  the  products  thereof,  that  has 
been  applied  to  this  artificial  method,  that  the  development  of  the 
natural  method  would  not  have  kept  pace  with  the  growth  of 
business  requirements.  It  is  a  reflection  upon  the  intelligence  of 
the  cotton  producers  and  an  insult  to  every  sentiment  of  honesty 
to  say  that  in  order  for  him  to  get  a  just  price  for  that  which  he 
has  produced  by  honest  toil,  that  he  or  some  one  in  his  locality 
must  turn  gambler  and  wager  with  a  lot  of  professionals  in  a 
game  where  every  advantage  is  against  him.  and  where  the  per 
cent  of  the  game  is  215  to  185  against  him.  It  is  absurd  to  say 
that  this  game  can  perform  an  economic  function  in  a  country's 
business  or  can  contribute  to  its  material  good. 

No  reasons  may  be  oft'ered  why,  if  the  present  artificial  method 
be  abandoned,  necessity  will  not  be  able  to  devise  an  equitable 
natural  method  of  marketing  cotton  and  the  products  of  the  manu- 
facturers in  a  safe,  practical  way,  with  no  more  hazard  than  is 
necessary  to  develop  caution  and  business  ability.  Hazard  cannot 
be  entirely  avoided.  Hedging  does  not  avoid  it.  The  parity  be- 
tween spot  and  future  prices  is  not  maintained.  It  not  infre- 
quently occurs  that  spots  will  not  change,  while  futures  may  ad- 
vance or  decline  many  points,  and  vice  versa.  Nature  has  asso- 
ciated a  certain  amount  of  hazard  with  everything  with  which 
men  have  to  do.  It  may  be  shifted  from  one  man  to  another,  but 
somebody  must  l)ear  the  burden  of  this  hazard,  and  each  man 
should  bear  his  part.     The  producer,  tlie  cotton  buyer,  and  the 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  77 

manufacturer  should  each  bear  his  part  of  the  hazard  connected 
with  the  cotton  business,  and  each  being  exposed,  all  would 
naturally  seek  to  remove  any  cause  which  produces  an  unneces- 
sary increase  of  the  hazard.  Instead  of  trying  to  insure  against 
it  by  artificial  hedging  which  gives  only  limited  protection,  all 
would  try  to  create  a  normal,  stable  market  in  which  all  could 
operate  with  relative  safety. 

It  is  not  right  that  the  cotton  producer  should  be  forced  to  un- 
w^illingly  guarantee  the  price  at  which  cotton  is  to  be  sold  unless 
somebody  will  guarantee  to  him  the  price  at  which  he  is  to  pro- 
duce it,  and  the  quantity  and  quality  of  his  yield.  We  have  not 
discussed  the  methods  of  particular  exchange.  It  is  the  system 
which  we  oppose  as  being  immoral,  unnatural,  and  injurious  not 
only  to  the  producer,  but  to  the  manufacturer,  to  the  consumer 
and  to  the  general  legitimate  business  interest  of  the  whole 
country. 

These  exchanges,-  when  you  come  to  examine  closely  the  indi- 
viduals in  charge  of  them,  will  be  found  to  be  incapable  of  re- 
forming themselves.  • 

Who  would  ever  think  of  retaining  Satan  to  reform  the  lower 
regions  ? 

We  could  expect  him  to  do  it  w'ith  as  much  honesty  and 
thoroughness  as  we  could  expect  the  exchanges  to  themselves 
abolish  their  evil  and  unjust  practices. 

In  simple  words,  they  "couldn't  be  good,  if  they  tried." 

The  only  hope,  and  the  only  remedy,  is  for  the  farmer  to  go 
into  politics,  as  detailed  in  other  chapters. 

What  do  you  think  of  this  idea,  Mr.  Farmerman?  Write  your 
Congressmen,  put  it  squarely  up  to  him,  and  see  what  he  thinks 
of  it. 

People  don't  ask  sheep  stealers  to  be  good.  They  go  after  them 
with  shot-guns. 

The  ballot  is  the  shot-gun  of  the  farmer ! 


78  MISSION,   HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


CHAPTER  VIII 


FACTS  THE  FARMER  MUST  LEARN— NEED  OF  SYSTEM— LAW ; 
SYSTEM  IS  LAW— MANUFACTURERS  HAVE  SYSTEM- 
TRAITORS— THE  SCHEMER— THE  FARMER— WATSON'S 
SPLENDID  TRIBUTE  TO  THE  FARMER— BOTH  SIDES. 

NEED  OF  SYSTEM. 

EVERYTHING  is  governed  by  law,  whether  in  the  reahii 
of  physics ,  civics  or  commerce.  Science  is  classihed 
knowledge  and  wisdom  is  perfected  judgment. 

System  is  the  inevitable  law  of  these,  from  which  there  is  no 
escape  and  without  which  physics,  civics  and  commerce  would 
fall  to  the  ground  in  common  ruin.  Physics  is  order  at  work  in 
the  natural  world.  The  smoke  that  curls  upward  from  the  chim- 
ney tops,  the  winds  that  move  in  circles,  the  rivers  that  flow  in 
spirals  all  obey  natural  laws  as  inflexible  as  were  the  laws  of 
ancient  Persia.  Civics  is  the  basis  of  government  wrought  out 
by  centuries  of  patient  effort  and  thought,  oftimes  at  fearful 
cost  in  blood  and  treasury,  by  unselfish  patriots,  who  were  willing 
to  be  misunderstood  and  misrepresented  by  those  whom  they 
loved  and  sacrificed  to  help.  Commerce,  whose  broad  wing 
shelters  millions,  has  been  of  slow  growth  and  subjected  to  many 
vicissitudes.  But  out  of  the  disappointments  and  failures  has 
grown  up  a  system  that  is  recognized  and  practiced  throughout 
the  world  today. 

Without  system  the  natural  order  of  things  would  be  dis- 
arranged,' and  planets,  constellations  and  solar  system  would  be 
but  destructive  forces  wandering  through  space.  Without  system 
in  the  natural  world,  the  farmer  could  not  plant  with  any  degree 
of  certainty  as  to  when  harvest  times  would  come.  Without  sys- 
tem winter  would  cast  his  snowflakes  and  scatter  his  frost  when 
the  roses  of  June  were  in  bloom.  \\'ithout  system  chaos  would 
reign  from  pole  to  pole,  and  no  one  could  tell  what  to  expect,  but 
with  system  things  move  on  with  equal  regularity,  and  spring 
follows  winter,  summer  the  spring,  aulumn  the  summer,  and  so 
on,  since  tiire  began.     Dav  succeeds  night,  week  succeeds  week, 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  79 

month  succeeds  month,  year  succeeds  year,  and  century  succeeds 
century,  and  has  since  Adam  stood  beneath  Eden's  rose-blown 
bowers  flushed  with  a  hope  shattered  by  the  blight  and  curse  of 
sin,  and  the  same  order  of  things  will  continue  till  the  last  chapter 
of  time  has  been  closed  by  an  angel  writing  "finis." 

Think  for  a  moment  how  many  centuries  have  come  and  gone 
since  the  human  race  began  the  evolution  of  laws ;  how  many 
nations  have  arisen  into  prominence,  ruled  for  awhile,  and  passed 
away ;  and  how  many  statesmen  have  thought  and  thought  before 
a  nation  reached  the  sublime  standard  of  "Government  for  the 
people  and  by  the  people." 

From  these  the  farmer  might  learn  a  valuable  lesson.  The 
farmer,  as  a  class,  has  never  regulated  or  systematized  his  busi- 
ness, as  manufacturers,  railroad  magnates,  trust-builders,  etc. 
have  systematized  their  business.  As  a  consequence  the  farmer 
has  been  losing  his  percentage  of  the  aggregate  v^ealth  of  the 
country.  Feeling  the  need  of  system  in  every  department  of 
farming  industry,  and  especially  in  marketing  crops,  the  Farmers' 
Union  proposed  voluntary  co-operation,  to  the  end  that  markets 
be  not  overcrowded  at  any  one  season  of  the  year.  It  sounds 
nice,  and  worked  partially,  but  to  secure  co-operation  among 
millions  of  people  without  a  binding  contract  legally  drawn  is  an 
utter  impossibility. 

Manufacturers  and  others  have  systematized  their  business  till 
it  moves  with  the  regularity  of  clockwork.  The  merchant  knows 
his  business  to  a  nicety.  His  books  show  every  transaction,  and 
he  can  tell  in  a  moment  just  how  his  business  stands.  His  expendi- 
tures for  goods,  office  rent,  clerk  hire,  insurance  and  rent  are  all 
entered  and  beconie  a  part  of  the  cost  added  to  his  goods.  The 
income  from  sales  is  watched  with  diligence,  and  his  profit  or  loss 
is  ever  before  his  eyes.  This  condition  is  made  possible  by  a  rigid 
system. 

Lack  of  system  has  been  the  bane  of  the  farmer,  and  the  cause 
of  much  loss.  The  farmer  keeps  no  books,  and  consequently 
never  knows  just  how  things  stand  in  his  business.  If  the  farmer 
expects  to  succeed  as  the  others  do.  he  must  introduce  strict 
business  methods  into  his  farming  operation. 

It  stands  to  reason  that  if  a  year's  supply  of  nonperishable 
products  be  marketed  at  the  rate  of  one-twelfth  each  month  that 
more  equitable  prices  can  be  maintained  than  to  auction  ofif  the 
crop  as  soon  as  gathered,  as  was  once  the  case.  If  we  but  sit  up 
and  take  notice,  we  will  see  that  organized  industry  has  a  head 
office  that  does  the  regulating  and  controls  the  output  of  the 
service.     If  the  farmer  is  tn  hold  hi?  nwn  he  must  do  the  same. 


80  MISSION_,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

For  centuries  the  farmer  has  been  independent,  owing  allegiance 
to  nobody  or  to  no  organization.  His  independence  has  been  the 
cause  of  much  of  his  ills  and  is  due  to  a  lack  of  system.  When- 
ever the  farmer  systematizes  his  farm  and  markets  his  products 
in  a  systematic  way,  the  dumping  of  millions  of  bales  of  cotton 
upon  the  market  during  the  fall  months,  as  is  the  custom,  instead 
of  marketing  it  through  the  whole  year,  will  cease.  The  most 
prosperous  concerns  in  the  business  would  put  their  interest  into 
one  common  pool  and  follow  the  leadership  and  direction  of  a 
head  man,  who  has  charge  of  the  entire  matter.  In  this  way  things 
are  controlled  and  the  business  made  profitable. 

Purchasers  must  be  given  to  know  that  certain  things  are  sold 
ONLY  through  certain  offices  and  by  the  authorized  agents  of 
the  farmers,  and  then  it  will  look  like  system  and  will  mean  busi- 
ness. So  long  as  every  producer  is  a  seller  and  every  town  a 
competitive  market,  to  talk  of  controlling  values  is  ridiculous. 
When  all  farmers  pool  their  power  and  give  purchasers  to  under- 
stand that  they  have  nothing  to  sell  individually,  but  that  all  must 
go  through  the  regular  channels  established  by  the  farmers — the 
business  world  will  make  obeisance  and  the  farmer  be  reckoned 
with  as  a  business  man. 

The  purchasing  agents  of  the  Unipn  have  met  with  some  degree 
of  success,  but  until  all  who  are  interested  as  members  of  the 
Union  centralize  their  business  and  follow  the  leadership  of  men 
who  know  how  to  systematize,  the  farmer  cannot  hope  to  meet 
business  men  in  a  business  way.  Millions  of  sellers  and  thousands 
of  selling  centers  are  disorganizing  in  influence  and  destructive  to 
co-operation.  A'^alues  cannot  be  controlled  by  each  farmer  acting 
as  a  unit,  but  they  can  be  controlled  by  all  actinc-  in  concert.  Com- 
petition is  said  to  be  the  life  of  trade,  but  it  is  in  the  farm 
products  the  ruin  of  the  farmer  if  such  competition  lowers  the  sell- 
ing price  of  his  products. 

For  one  to  refuse  to  enter  the  compact,  but  to  persist  in  going 
alone  is  to  play  the  part  of  a  Don  Quixote  and  storm  the  wind- 
mills, to  the  amusement  of  all  lookers  on.  Single-handed  and 
alone  the  farmer  cannot  fight  his  battles  successfully  or  win  a  vic- 
tory over  well-trained  and  seasoned  business  methods  founded 
upon  system.  The  farmer  may  as  well  recognize  this  fact  and 
set  about  to  evolve  a  compact  svstem  that  will  command  respect 
from  the  business  world.  The  farmer  can  establish  himself  in  the 
business  world  in  a  systematic  way  if  only  he  will. 

The  farmer's  exaggerated  idea  of  his  independence  has  led  to 
his  dependence.  Being  overconfident,  he  has  not  felt  the  neces- 
sitv  of  rircrani'/int'Tind  obcvine  commands.     Obedience  is  the  first 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  81 

law  of  system.  Wheels,  pulleys  and  shafts  are  parts  of  every 
factory,  but  for  one  to  disobey  the  command  of  the  engine,  or 
motive  power,  is  to  disarrange  the  system  and  disorganize  the 
movement  of  the  machinery.  Pulleys  are  dependent  upon  other 
pulleys,  and  if  one  docs  not  move,  the  others  are  idle.  Hence, 
system  is  a  law  governing  all  things. 

He  who  deserts  an  army  is  called  a  traitor — death  is  the  pen- 
alty. He  who  refuses  to  be  governed  by  civil  authority  is  called 
an  anarchist.  The  wage-worker  who  refuses  to  be  governed  by 
the  labor  union  is  termed  a  scab.  The  farmer  who  thinks  he  is 
big  enough  to  fight  the  organized  world  alone  is — well,  what 
is  he?  The  farmer  who  is  doing  fairly  well,  and  thinks  it  a  con- 
descension on  his  part  to  act  in  concert  with  those  less  fortunate 
is  too  vain  to  know  that  he  is  only  a  man  who  will  soon  not  be 
missed  nor  long  remembered.  The  farmer  who  does  not  desire 
the  poorer  class  to  become  self-supporting,  but  prefers  that  they 
be  dependent  that  he  may  the  more  readily  obtain  cheap  labor 
and  exploit  helpless  renters,  is  an  enemy  to  progress  and  deserves 
the  utmost  contempt  of  decent  citizens. 

The  law  of  success  is  the  same  with  farmers  as  with  others ;  so 
long  as  each  is  a  law  unto  himself  his  rank  will  gradually  retreat 
before  the  advance  of  organized  greed.  The  Farmers'  Union  is  on 
trial,  and  we  shall  soon  see  its  fate — which  is  dependent  upon  the 
intelligence  of  the  farmer. 

THE  SCHEMER. 

From  time  immemorial,  the  farmer  has  supported  and  voted  for 
the  man  he  liked  best.  Not  only  is  this  true  in  politics,  but  he  has 
acted  in  the  very  same  manner  when  it  came  to  business  and  busi- 
ness organizations.  In  the  days  of  the  Alliance  the  leaders  were 
selected  largely  because  of  the  farmers'  personal  preference  and 
not  because  of  any  commendable  business  qualifications  which 
might  or  ought  to  have  been  possessed  by  the  ofificial  elected.  This 
being  true,  the  shrewd  schemer  has  not  been  slow  to  cultivate 
the  good  opinion  of  the  farmer,  that  he  (the  schemer)  might  profit 
thereby. 

It  has  been,  and  still  is,  the  custom  of  many  speakers  to  tell  the 
farmers  that  they  are  good  fellows,  constituting  the  very  salt  of 
the  earth,  and  particularly  so  if  the  speaker  wants  an  office.  This 
form  of  flattery  has  often  been  used  with  telling  effect  in  cam- 
paigns, where  the  farmers'  vote  was  considerable.  Men  have  been 
swept  into  high  official  positions  with  no  higher  claim  of  merit 
6 


82  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

than  the  tiattery  judiciously  bestowed  upon  the  agricultural  ele- 
ment in  their  section. 

This  is  true  in  politics,  as  all  well  know,  and  it  is  just  as  true 
whenever  and  wherever  business  propositions  have  presented 
themselves  to  the  farmer  for  consideration  or  solution.  The 
catch-penny  business  concerns  that  make  a  business  of  lieecing  the 
unwary,  prey  upon  the  credulity  of  the  farmer  by  holding  out  to 
him  golden  opportunities  by  which  he  (the  farmer)  may  rapidly 
become  enriched  by  the  investment  of  a  very  small  amount. 

The  average  farmer  is  easily  gulled,  and  seems  to  like  it,  for 
as  soon  as  some  other  impossible  scheme  is  devised  he  bites  again. 
He  seems  to  be  willing  to  chase  a  rainbow  in  the  vain  hope  of 
finding  the  fabled  pot  of  gold  that  he  has  been  told  is  at  the  end 
of  it.  Even  though  he  has  learned  by  bitter  experiences  that  there 
is  no  gold  there,  he  is  just  as  willing  to  follow  the  next  one.  Hope 
never  dies  in  his  bosom.  Until  he  learns  some  business  sense, 
the  schemers  will  continue  to  take  advantage  of  his  whims  and 
prejudices.  Thinking  men  detest  the  easiness  with  which  farmers 
become  a  prey  to  these  scheming  demagogues.  But  the  farmers 
are  beginning  to  learn  the  ways  of  the  schemer,  and  will,  as  they 
become  better  informed  by  reason  of  organized  movements,  dis- 
regard them  and  disconcert  their  plans.  The  Union  furnishes  the 
organization  for  the  schooling  of  farmers,  wherein  they  learn  the 
schemer  and  his  ways,  and  right-thinking  people  everywhere 
should  aid  them  (the  farmers)  to  thwart  the  schemers.  Success 
has  attended  the  movements  of  the  Union  in  many  particulars 
along  lines  of  this  kind. 

THE   FARMER. 

Who  is  a  farmer,  and  what  does  he  amount  to  ?  has  often  been 
asked.  And  in  answer  to  this  question  repeated  efforts  have  been 
made  to  tell  who  he  was.  Some  of  these  answers  have  been  absurd 
■and  others  ridiculous.  What  rights  have  the  farmer?  Some 
appear  to  think  none  whatever.  He,  they  say,  should  toil  on  from 
year  to  year  and  never  once  express  a  choice  or  a  preference  ;  never 
have  a  say  in  any  civic  or  economic  question  that  may  confront 
the  people  of  a  State  or  Nation. 

Hon.  Thomas  E.  Watson  paid  a  memorable  tribute  to  the  farmer 
in  a  speech  before  a  convention  of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  New 
Orleans.    In  his  speech  Mr.  Watson  said  : 

FARMERS  WON  NATION'S  INDEPENDENCE. 

"When  there  were  vast  wastes  of  wilderness  to  be  cleared  with 
the  slow,  ardumus  work  of  the  ax.  he  cleared  them.    When  tlicre 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  83 

were  pestilential  marshes  to  be  drained,  he  has  drained  them. 
When  there  were  deserts  to  be  reclaimed,  he  has  watered  then, 
until  they  were  made  to  blossom  as  the  rose.  When  there  were 
;savages  to  be  driven  back,  it  was  the  crack  of  his  rifle  that  heralded 
the  advance  of  the  banners  of  civilization.  When  national  inde- 
pendence was  to  be  won  for  the  struggling  colonies,  it  was  the 
armies  of  farmers  led  by  a  farmer  that  met  Great  llritain  in  the 
shock  of  arms. 

"At  the  dark  crisis  of  the  Revolution  in  the  North,  when  the 
treason  of  Benedict  Arnold  threatened  ruin  to  the  whole  Ameri- 
can cause,  it  was  three  farmers  who  saved  the  day.  To  his  captors 
the  British  spy,  Major  Andre,  a  scion  of  the  aristocracy  of  Great 
Britain,  in  an  agony  of  fear,  made  every  tempting  ofifer — his  mag- 
nificent gold  watch,  his  well-filled  purse,  the  promise  of  riches  to 
each  of  the  poor  men  who  were  captors — to  secure  his  freedom. 
To  his  offers  the  reply  was  as  prompt  and  simple  as  it  was  sub- 
lime :  'We  are  only  poor  men,  but  the  King  of  England  has  not 
got  money  enough  to  buy  us.' 

"At  the  crisis  of  our  affairs  in  the  South  during  this  same  Revo- 
lution, the  day  was  saved  at  Kings  Mountain  by  Southern  farm- 
ers. Furnishing  their  own  guns  and  ammunition,  furnishing  their 
own  horses  and  provisions,  the  farmers  of  North  Georgia,  of  Ten- 
nessee, of  Southern  Virginia,  and  of  the  Carolinas,  sprang  into 
their  saddles  and  of  their  own  initiative  gave  chase  to  the  left  w^ing 
of  the  army  of  Cornwallis,  which  w^as  ravaging  the  country  with 
fire  and  sword,  surrounded  it,  fought  to  a  finish,  annihilated  it, 
and  thus  turned  the  tide  of  war,  making  one  success  the  stepping- 
istone  to  another,  until  the  consummation  of  British  destruction 
and  American  triumph  at  Yorktown. 

FARMERS   IN    WAR   OF    l8l2. 

"When  shame  and  disaster  along  the  Canadian  frontier  in  the 
War  of  1 812  had  bent  the  heads  of  the  nation  in  humiliation  and 
desperation,  it  was  the  farmers  of  the  South  and  West,  under  the 
leadership  of  a  Southern  farmer  and  a  \\^estern  farmer,  that 
redeemed  the  glory  of  our  arms  and  reanimated  the  spirit  of  our 
people  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames  and  in  the  glorious  ^triumph  of 
New  Orleans." 

Then  Mr.  Watson  asked,  "What  has  the  government  ever  done 
for  the  farmer?"  He  answers  this  question  by  citing  a  few 
things  done  for  them,  but  oflfsets  these  by  grouping  an  a  fray  of 
facts  and  figures  which  show  that  much  every  w^ay  has  been  done 
for  the  other  pcnple.     The  reason  for  this  doing  for  the  others 


84 


MISSION,    HISTORY  AND   TIMES 


lM{(».\ll.\K.\r    UoltKKIfS,    OKLAHOMA    DIVISION". 

1.  S.  ').  Daws,  F,x  Slate  I'rcsldcnt. 

2.  IlK.Nuy  rKitvvDinii.  l':x McmlxT  Slate  Kxccniive  ('ouiniitteo. 
.'{.   W.   .r.   C'UAWi'DHi).   Stiilc  Orj;nni/,i'r. 

4.   IIahdy   Dial,    I'roitilnciil    Lfctiircr. 

"i.   M.  15.  I?i(o\v.N,  ICx-Mcmhcr  State  ICxecntlvo  rommittee. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  85 

is  that  tlie  others  went  after  what  they  wanted,  and  made  their 
wishes  known  and  enforced  them  by  strong  demands. 

A  very  sensible  view  of  the  farmer  was  recently  exposed  by 
John  M.  Stahl,  editor  Fanners'  Call,  in  which  he  reviews  the 
opinions  of  others  relative  to  the  farmer. 

These  views  are  quoted  here,  not  for  the  purpose  of  antagoniz- 
ing other  interests,  or  for  the  purpose  of  setting  one  class  against 
another,  but  for  the  reason  that  they  are  true.  The  quotation 
presents  both  sides,  and  is  as  follows : 

"In  the  city  are  to  be  found  wrong  notions  about  farmers. 
These  notions  are,  almost  without  e.xception,  uncomplin-.entary  to 
the  farmer,  and  do  him  an  injustice.  The  farmer  is  well  aware 
of  all  this,  and  the  result  is  a  somewhat  unkindly  feeling  toward — 
not  the  few  city  people  he  knows,  but  the  city  people  he  does  not 
know — town  people  as  a  class.  Hence  he  is  indifferent  to  some 
things  that  affect  the  welfare  of  city  people.  This  is  unfortunate. 
It  is  equally  unfortunate  that  city  people,  because  of  wrong  notions 
of  the  farmer,  are  indifferent  and  occasionally  openly  hostile  to 
the  interests  of  farmers.  I  repeat  that  this  is  unfortunate  for 
both  parties,  for  the  interests  of  the  man  of  the  city  and  the  man 
of  the  farm  are  now  closely  interwoven.  What  injures  the  city 
hurts  the  farm.  What  benefits  the  farm  helps  the  city.  If  city 
people  knew  the  farmer  as  he  really  is,  and  if  the  farmer  knew 
that  the  city  people  had  a  just  conception  of  him,  he  would  not 
have  that  indifference  to  or  positive  disregard  of  urban  interests 
that,  for  example,  is  only  too  manifest  in  the  Legislatures  of  the 
States  having  one  or  more  large  cities.  It  is  highly  important 
to  the  good  citizen  of  Chicago,  for  an  example,  that  there  be  a 
good  understanding  between  them  and  the  farmers  of  Illinois, 
for  while  much  that  is  said  to  the  farmer  about  his  honesty  is 
insincere  flattery  that  nauseates  him,  it  is  nevertheless  true  that 
there  is  not  the  vice  and  corruption  among  our  farm  population 
that  there  is  in  the  cities  ;  and  in  their  efforts  for  better  municipal — 
and  State  and  National — government,  the  better  element  of  our 
cities  can,  if  they  are  wise,  have  the  sympathy  and  help  of  the 
farmer,  and  this  may  often  be  needed  and  as  often  be  valuable. 
In  the  Legislature  of  every  State  having  one  or  more  large  cities, 
some  of  the  members  are  so  distrustful  of  and  prejudiced  against 
the  city,  that  it  is  their  rule  of  conduct,  from  which  they  can  be 
induced  to  depart  by  unly  strong,  clearly  understood  considera- 
tions, to  oppose  whatever  the  citv  wants ;  and  yet  more  are  alto- 
gether indifferent  to  the  city  or  cities  that  are  as  much  a  part  of 
the  State  as  are  the  rural  communities.  Legislation  desired  by  the 
citv  would  be  investigated  and  considered  without  prejudice  by 


86  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

farmer  legislators  if  town  people  did  not  show  their  ignorance  of 
and. contempt  for  the  real  farmer.  Sentiment  among  farmers  in 
favor  of  legislation  desired  by  the  cities  would  often  be  developed 
by  those  in  whom  the  farmer  has  confidence — farm  leaders  without 
an  itch  for  public  office — if  those  leaders  were  not  offensively  ig- 
nored by  those  that  propose  to  force  the  measures  through  the 
Legislature.  The  farmers'  concern  for  city  interests  is.  not  in- 
creased by  being  scolded  by  the  city  papers  because  of  his  failure 
to  aid  the  legislation  desired  by  the  city,  when  those  papers  fre- 
quently refer  to  him  as  a  fool  and  the  'long-whiskered  populist.' 
Reading  our  daily  papers,  justly  and  justifiably  exposing  and  de- 
nouncing that  corruption  that  all  too  generally  permeates  our 
municipal  governments ;  noting  the  frequency  of  the  most  hideous 
crime  against  little  girls  and  that  those  guilty  of  it  are  given  penal- 
ties entirely  inadequate ;  and  deeply  impressed  by  the  many  rob- 
beries and  murders  in  the  city,  the  farmer  is  not  to  be  blamed  if 
he  is  a  little  inclined  to  believe  that  hold-up  men  are  more  numer- 
ous than  they  really  are ;  that  many  of  the  stenographers  and  shop 
girls  are  not  virtuous,  and  that  the  business  and  political  standards 
are  low  in  the  city.  And  city  people,  reading  the  alleged  wit  and 
seeing  the  very,  very  funny  pictures  of  the  bewhiskered  farmer 
in  many  periodicals,  conclude  that  the  farmer  never  speaks 
grammatically,  and  that  he  knows  nothing  of  history  or  science ; 
that  he  spends  much  of  his  time  signing  lightning  rod  contracts ; 
that  he  believes  that  all  that  is  needed  to  make  sound  currency  are 
paper  and  a  printing  press ;  that  he  spends  money  onlv  for  harness 
and  plug  tobacco,  and  that  his  wife  is  compelled  to  sell  eggs  to  get 
all  her  clothes ;  and  that,  in  short,  he  was — and  is — a  populist." 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  87 


CHAPTER  IX. 


EDUCATION  AND  CO-OPERATION— REVIEW  OF  NATIONS  NEG- 
LECTING EDUCATION  AND  THE  RESULTS— NATIONS 
ADVANCED  BY  EDUCATION— LEADERSHIP  IN  SCHOOLS- 
STATE  AID— COTTON  SCHOOLS— CO-OPERATION— THE 
TRUST  IN  CO-OPERATION— OTHER  TRUSTS— CO-OPERA- 
TION OF  GRAIN  ELEVATORS  AND  CREAMERIES  IN  THE 
WEST. 

THE   SIGXIFICANCE   OF    EDUCATION    AND    CO-OPERATION. 

MENTAL,  moral  and  spiritual  stagnation  is  the  penalty  for 
ignorance.  It  is  imposed  by  each  law  of  the  Almighty, 
as  well  as  by  the  statutes  of  mankind.  The  negro  in  the 
jungle,  gibbering  and  wrestling  with  nature  for  his  daily  bread, 
is  an  illustration  of  the  effect  of  the  absence  of  education.  Progress 
or  supremacy  that  is  founded  on  physical  prowess  alone  is  i:ever 
complete  or  of  long  duration.  Every  action  in  a  man's  life,  every 
deed  in  the  world's  history,  whether  great  or  small,  whether  the 
mere  mechanism  of  breathing  or  of  swaying  an  empire,  was  first 
a  thought. 

Being  a  thought,  it  must  originate  in  a  mind.  The  first  attribute 
of  mind  is  intelligence.  Intelligence  is  sustained,  directed  and  de- 
veloped by  education.  What  food  is  to  the  body,  education  is  to 
the  mental  faculties.  What  air  is  to  the  lungs,  knowledge  is  to  the 
brain. 

A  man  or  a  race  may  be  pre-eminently  virtuous,  pre-eminently 
wise,  and  pre-eminently  aggressive.  Unless  they  have  in  addition 
to  these  qualities,  the  quality  of  absorbing  knowledge  from  ex- 
perience and  information  from  environment  and  learning  from 
the  past  and  present,  that  man  or  that  race  will  never  leave  a  state 
of  semi-obscurity  and  complete  barbarity. 

Track  the  story  of  the  nations  throughout  history  and  you  will 
see  these  truths  exemplified.  From  the  first  recorded  incident 
in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  always  the  banner  in  man's  progress  has 
been  that  of  education.     It  was  so  with  Carthage,  Greece,  Rome. 


88  ^riSSIOX,   HISTORY   AND  TIMES 

and  with  the  barbarians.  The  Egyptian  Sphinx  stands  out  today 
as  a  monumental  challenge  to  the  engineering  skill  of  civilization. 
It  is  also  an  inscrutable  testimonial  to  the  learning  and  intelligence 
of  the  ancient  people  of  the  Pharoahs. 

Look  at  your  own  child,  who  has  been  given  advantages  superior 
to  those  your  father  was  able  to  give  you. 

Granting  him  original  intelligence,  he  has  reaped  and  is  reap- 
ing an  advancement  absolutely  impossible  to  yourself,  from  sheer 
lack  of  education. 

The  Farmers'  Union,  at  its  inception  and  through  its  every 
phase  of  development,  has  eloquently  realized  and  sought  to  profit 
by  this  knowledge. 

The  Farmers'  Union  began  by  declaring  for  better  school  facil- 
ities in  the  rural  districts  of  the  South.  In  many  sections  the 
Union  has  become  the  dominant  power  in  educational  matters. 
School  boards  and  legislators  have  been  forced  by  the  numbers 
composing  the  Union  to  listen  to  the  demand  for  better  schools, 
longer  terms,  better  teachers,  with  better  salaries.  Before  the 
coming  of  the  Union,  in  many  counties  the  school  term  was  barely 
three  months  long,  and  was  taught  during  the  winter  months, 
while  the  children  did  not  have  to  work  on  the  farm.  The  school 
houses  were  of  the  poorest  kind.  They  were  without  blackboards 
or  desks,  and  the  curriculum  consisted  of  reading,  writing,  and 
simple  arithmetic.  The  average  boy  of  eighteen  who  could  do 
sums  in  fractions  was  considered  the  best  educated  in  the  com- 
munity. A  storN'  is  told  of  a  rural  teacher  who  once  went  before 
the  county  board  of  examiners  for  license  to  teach.  The  applicant 
was  asked  if  he  taught  that  the  world  was  round  or  flat,  and  he 
replied  that  if  his  patrons  wanted  the  round  system,  he  taught 
that,  and  if  they  wanted  the  flat  system,  he  taught  that.  While 
this  story  may  be  a  little  overdrawn,  it  is  an  illustration  of  the  lack 
of  training  of  many  teachers  who  taught  in  the  country  sections. 

In  Georgia  the  Union  has  been  foremost  in  demanding  better 
school  facilities  for  the  country  boys  and  girls.  There  are  now 
eleven  district  agricultural  schools  in  the  State,  and  the  membrship 
of  the  Union  feels  a  just  and  laudable  pride  that  they,  with  others, 
led  a  fight  for  the  establishment  of  these  schools.  In  the  other 
Southern  States,  notably  Alabama  and  Texas,  industrial  and 
agricultural  education  has  received  a  new  impetus  under  the 
guidance  and  direction  of  the  Farmers'  I'nion.  The  Unions  of 
Arkansas,  Oklahoma,  JMississij^pi  and  Louisiana  have  made  a 
praiseworthy  fight  in  behalf  of  similar  kinds  of  education. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  89 

LEADERSHIP    IN    SCHOOLS. 

Agriculture  is,  and  must  always  remain,  one  of  the  Soulh's 
chief  sources  of  revenue  and  wealth.  The  numerous  rivers  are 
destined  to  furnish  unlimited  waterpower  for  manufacturing 
plants  of  all  kinds.  Alabama,  with  her  coal  and  iron,  has  her 
place  fixed  in  the  column  of  iron  manufacturing.  Texas  is  noted 
for  the  abundance  of  her  oil  wells.  South  Carolina  and  Georgia, 
with  Alabama,  are  great  producers  of  peaches,  but  all  of  these 
are  now  but  a  small  part  of  the  South's  sources  of  income. 

While  the  manufacturing  progress  which  has  been  w^itnessed 
throughout  the  South  during  the  past  decade  has  astonished  the 
people  in  every  part  of  the  country,  yet  manufacturing  interests 
have  in  no  wise  kept  pace  with  the  agricultural  increase  in  wealth. 

This  progress  is  a  source  of  gratitude  to  the  farmer,  but  while 
many  are  astonished  at  the  progress,  the  lack  of  trained  leadership 
in  the  production  and  disposition  of  things  grown  upon  the  farm 
has  been  a  serious  drawback.  To  remedy  this  defect  the  Union 
has  led  an  unprecedented  fight  within  the  rank  of  its  own  mem- 
bership for  schools  that  would  train  the  farmer  boys  in  practical 
farm  science.  The  fight  also  has  been  made  for  a  system  by  which 
the  products  coming  from  the  farm  might  be  profitably  marketed. 

One  fact  must  be  realized  above  all  others.  That  fact  is,  that 
no  amount  of  theoretical  teaching  has  ever  or  can  ever  make  a 
successful  farmer.  Experience  of  an  intensely  practical  nature 
is  absolutelv  necessary.  It  requires  knowledge,  mixed  with  com- 
mon sense  and  experience  to  grow  corn  and  cotton. 

EDUCATION    AND    C0-0PER.\TI0N. 

(Public  Press.) 

There  is  no  more  potent  or  influential  factor  in  the  jiromotion 
of  education  than  the  public  press.  It  exerts  a  far-reaching  in- 
fluence that  is  felt  in  every  nook  and  corner  of  the  public  domain. 
It  is  a  moulder  of  public  opinion.  It  heralds  to  the  world  the 
deeds  of  men,  good  or  bad,  committed  in  other  parts  of  the  world 
almost  as  soon  as  they  occur.  The  press  is  a  recorder  of  current 
history,  and  can  by  its  news  items  and  editorial  utterances  exert 
a  baneful  or  beneficial  influence. 

The  Union  has  been  in  the  forefront  demanding  clean  and 
wholesome  journalism.  As  men  read,  so  they  think  :  and  as  they 
think,  so  they  act.  The  press  has  it  in  its  power  to  arouse  the 
masses  to  a  realization  f)f  their  needs  for  an  education  and  therebv 


90  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

aid  in  advancing  the  American  people  to  greater  heights  of  civiHza- 
tion  than  they  now  occupy. 

The  masses  of  the  people  must  be  educated  if  we  ever  expect  to 
solve  the  perplexing  problems  that  confront  us ;  the  masses  must 
be  educated  if  we  are  to  continue  to  grow  as  a  nation ;  the  masses 
must  be  educated  if  our  liberties  are  to  remain  guaranteed  to  us. 
If  necessary,  we  should  make  any  sacrifice  to  educate  our  children, 
even  to  that  of  going  in  rags.  This,  then,  being  true,  we  shall  look 
to  the  press  as  one  of  the  agencies  to  aid  us  in  arousing  the  people 
to  a  sense  of  their  duty. 

STATE  AID. 

Most  of  the  States  have  materially  encouraged  agricultural  edu- 
cation by  legislative  appropriation.  A  few  facts  and  figures  taken 
from  educational  reports  will  illustrate  what  some  of  the  States 
are  doing  for  this  kind  of  education,  Minnesota  has  i,ooo  stu- 
dents in  attendance  upon  her  College  of  Agriculture.  The  cost 
of  the  buildings  alone  is  $684,000,  and  it  costs  $100,000  annually 
to  maintain  this  school.  Virginia  has  invested  in  buildings  and 
equipments  $200,000.  Alabama  appropriates  $175,000  per  ye^r 
for  the  maintenance  of  her  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College, 
and  Texas  gives  $177,000.  South  Carolina  appropriates  more 
than  $160,000  annually,  while  Missouri  gives  $125,000  for  the 
same  purpose. 

THE   COTTON   SCHOOL. 

From  the  days  of  the  invention  of  the  cotton  gin  by  Eli  Whitney 
to  the  present  time,  the  farmers  have  carried  their  cotton  to  market 
and  the  buyers  and  speculators  have  sampled  it,  graded  it  accord- 
ing to  their  classifications  and  placed  their  own  price  upon  it.  No 
farmer  who  grew  cotton  could  tell  its  grade.  He  was  completely 
at  tlTe  mercy  of  the  buyer  in  the  grading  of  his  cotton,  as  well  as 
in  the  pricing  of  it.  The  farmer  thought  that  it  was  enough  for 
him  to  know  how  to  grow  it.  It  never  occurred  to  him  that  he 
ought  to  know  its  quality  and  its  grade.  His  lack  of  knowledge 
gave  the  buyer  an  unreasonable  advantage,  of  which  the  buyer 
was  not  slow  to  avail  himself.  The  buyers  purchased  the  bulk 
of  the  cotton  at  a  lower  grade  than  it  really  was. 

\\'hen  the  Union  had  become  of  some  force  in  the  cotton  belt 
the  membership  began  to  discuss  the  matter  of  cotton  schools. 
Alabama  in  1907  held  a  most  successful  cotton  school  in  the 
College  Building  at  Auburn.  Other  States  followed  with  cotton 
schools,  all  (if  which  were  successful. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  91 

The  purpose  of  these  cotton  schools  was  to  teach  the  farmers 
how  to  grade  cotton.  Boys  from  every  section  of  the  State  in 
which  the  school  was  held  flocked  in  droves  to  the  schools.  They 
were  eager  to  learn.  The  agitation  which  had  been  going  on  for 
several  months;  the  debates  in  the  conventions  and  other  meetings 
of  the  Union,  and  numerous  newspaper  articles  by  farmers  and 
others  interested  in  these  schools  had  created  a  thirst  for  this  kind 
of  knowledge  that  was  little  short  of  marvelous. 

The  first  cotton  school  held  in  Georgia  was  opened  January 
6,  1908,  and  remained  in  session  until  the  17th  of  the  month.  There 
were  one  hundred  and  five  men,  from  fifty-four  counties  in  the 
State,  and  they  were  in  age  from  sixteen  to  sixty  years. 

CO-OPERATION. 

The  laws  of  co-operation  are  as  old  as  the  world.  They  are  as 
old  as  God's  dream  of  order.  The  laws  of  co-operation  are  as 
immutable  as  the  laws  of  order  by  which  the  sun,  moon  and  stars 
are  governed.  Independence  is  as  much  a  law  of  God  as  the  Ten. 
Commandments.  There  is  no  escape  from  it.  The  Bible  says, 
"No  man  liveth  to  himself  and  no  man  dieth  to  himself."  thus 
clearly  establishing  the  divine  law  of  co-operation  in  nature  and 
among  men. 

The  past  is  full  of  worthy  examples  of  startling  successes 
wrought  out  through  corporate  efiforts,  and  it  is  equally  as  full  of 
miserable  failures  where. co-operation  had  been  neglected.  Nation^^ 
owe  their  rise  and  independence  to  concert  of  movement.  History 
reveals  the  decay  and  ultimate  downfall  of  nations  where  strife  and 
dissensions  were  rife.  .  ^ 

Englariid  has  withstood  the  outside  attacks^  of  opposing  .acinieS" 
and  navies  formore  than  a  thousand  years.  As  a  financial  center 
she  ranks  as  the  head.  Her  industries  have  been  built  up  by  co- 
operation. She  stands  today  as  one  Of  the  forernost  Tgtion:s  of  the 
earth.  Her  people  have  always  been  a  uniti'^/^^^leitever  was 
thought  to  be  for  the  best  interest  of  the  nation  instantly  met  with 
the  approval  of  all  the  people.  England  is  not  alone  in  this 
respect.  The  United  States — our  own  country — is  a  bright  exam- 
ple of  what  co-operation  will  do  for  a  country^  Our  priceless  liber- 
ties were  purchased  at  fearful  cost.  The  American  soil  has  been 
drenched  bv  the  blood  of  her  people,  who  willingly  and  gladly 
(gave  not  only  their  property,  but  their  lives  as  well,  in  defense  of 
liberty. 

That  liberty  so  prized  by  the  masses  now,  was  made  possible 
through  co-operation  of  all  her  people.     Had  one  here  and  there 


92 


MISSION',    HISTORY   AND  TIMES 


i'i:o.mim;.\t  woukkus.  Oklahoma  division. 

J.  r.  CdNXoits,  I'rosldcnl   Stale  Itoard  of  Agriciiltiiro. 
J.  Y.  Callaiiax.  K.\-.\I('iiil)cr  Slate  Kxi'cntive  Coiiimittei'. 
Wiii.iA.M   .MriiUAY.  Si)i'ak(M-  oklalionia   Li'sislatiirc 
('A.Mri'.i;i.i,  ItissKLi,.  lOx-Mt'mlx'i-  Nalloiial  Hoard  of  Directors. 
.1.   S.   .\ll  i;i!A>,   KxSecrclalv  Treasiii  CI-, 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  93 

Stood  for  the  principles  of  liberty  no  successful  opiX)sition  to 
English  misrule  could  have  been  organized.  Some  did  oppose  the 
movement,  but  when  the  convention  by  a  majority  vote  cast  the 
die  for  freedom,  the  opposition  melted  away  as  melts  the  snow 
before  the  spring  sun  or  vanishes  the  mist  before  the  morning  sun- 
light. Co-operation  carried  the  American  arms  to  victory,  and 
I^ngkuul  recognized  the  right  of  the  colonies  to  be  free  and  inde- 
pendent people. 

Examples  are  not  wanting  in  the  business  world.  The  giant 
trusts  that  now  control  our  business  and  dictate  the  policies  of 
our  government,  owe  their  power  of  control  to  unanimity  of  pur- 
pose and  thoroughness  of  organization. 

Standard  Oil,  the  most  powerful  and  autocratic  combination  on 
the  American  Continent,  began  a  few  years  ago  with  a  few  oil 
concerns  pooling  their  interests  and  fixing  a  price  on  oil.  Others 
soon  joined,  until  enough  had  gone  into  the  compact  to  control 
the  oil  business.  The  few  independent  concerns  that  could  not  be 
bought  out  were  frozen  out  by  questionable  methods.  The  oil 
trust  was  determined  to  be  master  of  the  oil  trade  in  the  United 
States.  Standard  Oil  and  its  interests  invaded  the  oil  fields  about 
the  Black  Sea  of  Russia.  Here  they  soon  got  control.  Other 
places  were  invaded  with  the  same  result. 

Standard  Oil  won  by  co-operation.  The  railroads,  at  the  mercy 
of  which  the  people  are,  have  merged  their  lines  and  pooled  their 
interests  till  they  are  supreme  in  their  domination  of  transportation. 
The  Armours,  the  Swifts,  the  Cudahys  and  the  Nelson-IMorris 
Co.  have  gotten  closer  together  year  by  year  till  they  absolutely 
control  the  price  of  meat,  hides,  tallow  and  all  the  other  products 
of  the  packing  houses.  They  have  accomplished  this  by  simple  co- 
operation. 

A  tiny  stream  starts  from  a  sparkling  fountain  high  up  in  the 
mountain.  A  small  boulder  could  efifectively  dam  the  little  stream 
as  it  Hows  down  the  mountain  side.  It  babbles  over  the  ledges 
and  rocks  that  impede  its  progress ;  it  sparkles  in  the  sunshine  or 
darkens  in  the  shadow,  as  it  rushes  past  the  bare  rocks.  The 
mountain  climbers  step  across  it  at  one  bound.  Other  streamlets 
join  it;  it  becomes  a  brook;  other  brooks  mingle  their  waters  with 
it  and  it  becomes  a  river. 

No  power  on  earth  can  check  or  long  retard  the  mighty  current 
of  the  river.  No  man  can  build  a  dam  high  enough  or  strong 
enough  to  shut  it  in,  or  stop  its  flow.  Factory  wheels  are  turned 
bv  its  current,  and  ships  flying  the  flags  of  every  nation  and 
freighted  with  the  commerce  of  every  clime,  pass  in  and  out  upon 
its  broad  bosom.     The   co-operation  of  the  tiny  streamlets   has 


94  MISSION.   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

produced  a  mighty  river  that  all  the  boasted  powers  of  man  can- 
not check. 

OTHER    TRUSTS. 

That  which  is  true  of  the  giant  concerns  here  enumerated  is 
true  of  others  equally  as  pernicious  and  greedy.  Time  and  space 
will  not  allow,  in  a  work  of  ihis  nature,  to  give  anything"  like  a 
detailed  account  of  the  trust  and  its  methods  of  co-operation.  This 
is  to  be  a  history  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  these  concerns  are 
mentioned  here  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  a  moral.  They  are 
given  to  show  the  farmers  what  they  could  do  if  they  would  co- 
operate together. 

With  the  rise  of  the  farmers'  organizations  a  co-operative  move- 
ment was  deemed  advisable.  As  the  subject  was  more  fully  dis- 
cussed by  the  meetings  of  organized  farmers,. the  necessity  became 
more  apparent  and  the  demand  more  imperative.  The  Alliance, 
one  of  the  largest  farmers'  movements  in  the  history  of  the  United 
States,  was  insistent  for  co-operation  in  buying  and  manufactur- 
ing, and  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  Alliance  and  kindred  organ- 
izations, this  subject  will  be  treated  more  fully  than  it  can  be  done 
here. 

In  the  \\^est.  the  movement  has  crystallized  into  the  form  of  grain 
elevators  and  co-operative  creameries.  These  have  in  most  places 
met  with  success.  Some,  owing  to  lack  of  business  management 
and  foresight,  have  failed,  but  the  proportion  of  failures  is  small 
in  comparison  to  the  number  in  operation.  Failures  were  to  be 
expected,  and  those  who  have  been  foremost  in  promoting  the  co- 
operative enterprises  have  been  surprised  at  the  number  that  have 
succeeded,  rather  than  at  the  number  that  have  failed. 

These  grain  elevators  have  been  the  means  of  putting  the  con- 
trol of  wheat,  oats  and  corn  largely  into  the  hands  of  the  farmers. 
The  old  line  elevators,  controlled  by  the  trust,  have  made  a  des- 
perate fight  to  stamp  out  the  independent  concerns.  The  farmers, 
however,  have  been  true  to  their  obligation,  and  in  most  places 
have  won  against  the  combinations  of  money  and  influence.  This 
influence  has  been  employed  to  destroy  the  independent  or  co- 
operative grain  elevators,  but  be  it  said  to  the  credit  of  the  people 
in  the  sections  where  the  co-operative  elevators  have  been  organ- 
ized, they  have  adhered  to  the  co-operative  plans. 

The  old  line  elevator  people,  the  trust,  have  sought  to  destroy 

the  independent  concerns  by  paying  a  higher  price  for  grain. 

A\'iienever  and  wherever  this  is  practiced  the  farmers  sell  their 

grain  to  the  old  line  people,  and  pav  the  independent  concerns  the 

commission,  (lius  sustaining  an  aggressive  ojiposition.     Tmva  and 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  95 

Kansas  have  been  battlefields  in  which  regular  warfare  has  been 
waged.  Lyman  T.  Earringer  and  C.  C.  Messerole,  of  Iowa,  have 
long  been  leaders  in  the  fight  in  those  States. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  grain  belt  and  corn  growing  section  have, 
too,  been  at  the  mercy  of  the  avaricious  speculators.  The  grain  pits 
of  Chicago  are  among  the  largest  gamblers'  resorts  in  the  world.  In 
these  pits  the  millions  of  bushels  of  corn  and  wheat  grown  by  the 
farmers  of  the  West  are  manipulated  according  to  the  moods  of 
those  who  control  the  pits.  The  grain  speculators  are  not  alone  in 
their  imjust  and  unrighteous  dealings  with  the  farmer.  The  meat 
packing  concerns  fix  the  price  of  hogs  and  live  stock  shipped  to 
them  from  every  section  of  the  country.  These  selfsame  packers 
name  the  prices  that  the  consumers  shall  pay  for  the  dressed  meats. 

Some  idea  of  the  vastness  of  the  operation  of  these  meat  packing 
concerns  may  be  gained  when  it  is  recalled  that  Armour  &  Co. 
alone  butcher  13,000  hogs  daily,  and  3,500  beef  cattle.  It  is  said 
that  the  output  of  their  lard  department  is  1,000,000  pounds  per 
day,  and  they  manufacture  500,000  tin  cans  and  pails  during  the 
same  time.  They  also  own  the  refrigerator  cars  in  which  the 
peaches,  melons  and  vegetables  grown  in  every  section  of  the 
United  States  are  shipped.  They  also  have  a  monopoly  of  the 
blood  and  tankage  used  in  the  manufacture  of  commercial  fertil- 
izer. The  kainit  mines  of  Germany,  and  the  cotton  seed  business 
are  either  owned  or  controlled  by  these  people. 

Some  forty-three  years  ago  the  meat  packing  trust  had  its  be- 
ginning, and  gradually  but  surely  it  has,  serpent-like,  wound  its 
coils  about  independent  businesses,  till  today  there  is  little  of  these 
left  to  oppose  the  destructive  forces  of  corporation  greed.  The 
growth  of  the  West  is  astonishing.  Less  than  a  half  century  ago 
hardy  pioneers  drove  their  ox-carts  into  many  sections  of  the 
prairie  country  west  of  the  Mississippi.  They  had  but  few  house- 
hold goods,  but  what  did  they  care?  They  had  the  blue  sky 
above  and  the  broad,  rich  earth  underneath.  They  built  for  them- 
selves sod  houses,  and  founded  an  empire.  They  were  satisfied 
with  their  surroundings,  because  they  were  carefree  and  happy. 
The  earth  yielded  them  an  abundance  of  wheat  and  corn,  and  the 
bison  roaming  tamely  over  the  vast,  treeless  plains,  furnished  them 
with  meat. 

These  settlers  redeemed  the  land,  and  good  homes  were  built, 
W'here  lately  the  Indians  had  practiced  their  acts  of  savagery.  The 
land  yielded  incredible  amounts  of  wheat  and  corn.  The  schemers 
began  to  plan  hov>'  to  get  control  of  these  valuable  products.  The 
farmers,  ignorant  of  these  plans,  allowed  the  schemers  to  get 
control  of  the  elevators  and  thus  dominate  the  prices  and  the  place 


96  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

of  marketing".  The  price  of  grain  gradually  depreciated.  Exorbi- 
tant elevator  charges  were  levied  against  the  sellers  of  grain. 
Each  year  saw  the  farmers  getting  poorer  and  the  grain  dealers 
and  speculators  getting  richer.  Corn,  under  the  domination  of 
the  trust,  was  sold  as  low  as  eight  to  ten  cents  per  bushel. 

The  people  became  aroused  and  evinced  a  splendid  determina- 
tion to  get  rid  of  speculative  interest  by  building  co-operative  grain 
elevators.  They  saw  their  homes  in  danger,  and  they  themselves 
becoming  serfs.  Valuing  their  homes  and  loving  their  hearth- 
stones, as  do  all  American  citizens,  they  called  meetings  and  held 
conventions,  out  of  wdiich  has  grown  an  elevator  system  which 
bids  fair  to  ofifer  successful  opposition  to  the  destructive  inroads 
of  the  grain  trust. 

The  love  of  home,  the  birthright  of  the  American  people,  has 
been  the  chief  moving  power  in  the  fight  against  the  grain  trust, 
and  why  should  it  not?  For,  as  the  writer  says,  there  is  no  word 
in  the  English  language  comparable  to  that  of  home,  except  mother 
and  home,  and  these  may  be  said  to  be  comprehended  in  the  word 
home.  It  was  the  love  of  home  that  lent  a  fury  to  the  arm  of  the 
farmers  about  Concord  and  Lexington,  on  that  eventful  April  day 
when  the  British  decided  to  quit  Charleston  for  the  purpose  of 
routing  the  insignificant  forces  called  minute  men.  Then  was  fired 
the  shot  heard  around  the  world.  It  was  fired  by  American  farm- 
ers in  defense  of  their  homes.  No  army  ever  fought  as  did  the 
starved  and  ragged  legions  of  Washington  and  Gates.  The  suffer- 
ings at  Valley  Forge  are  the  most  eloquent  eulogy  that  could  be 
paid  to  the  patriotism  of  the  men  who  went  barefooted,  marking 
their  steps  on  the  frozen  ground  with  their  own  blood.  These 
patriots  have  bequeathed  to  posterity  the  priceless  legacy  of  free- 
dom. They  signed  the  document  with  their  own  blood,  and  that 
signature  carries  with  it  the  inalienable  rights  of  liberty.  This 
liberty  the  speculators  have  by  combination  sought  to  wrest  from 
the  great  masses  of  the  common  people. 

The  American  nation  was  founded  upon  the  theory  that  the 
common  people  should  have  homes  of  their  own.  The  principle, 
every  family  with  a  home,  and  every  home  with  a  family,  was 
a  paramount  idea  with  the  nation  builders.  This  idea  has  been 
transferred  from  father  to  son  until  the  name  American  has  be- 
come synonomous  with  home  itself.  Men  work  and  starve  and 
save  foi-  years  to  secure  a  little  patch  of  dirt  upon  which  to  build 
a  home  for  wife  and  loved  ones,  but  in  this  age  the  trend  under 
speculation  is  toward  the  accummulation  of  vast  estates  and  a  com- 
plete control  of  that  substance  produced  by  the  farmer.  A  com- 
plete system  of  co-operation  is  the  only  means  by  which  these 
speculators  can  be  met  and  rlcfcatcd. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  97 


CHAPTER  X, 


PLItroSKS  AND  PRINCII'LES— E(iT  ITY   AND   JCSTICE— THE 
GOLDEN   lUJLE— liUYIXG   AND   SELLING. 

PRINCIPLES    AND   PURPOSES  OF  THE  ORDER. 

THE  scttiui""  forth  of  the  princi])les  and  purposes  of  the  order 
is  hihorious,  hut  a  work  of  love. 

\\  hen  fury  has  lent  an  impetus  to  the  charging  army  or 
given  expression  to  deeds  of  violence  in  times  of  peace,  there  have 
been  several  reasons  for  it.  These  reasons  may  not  have  been  clear 
at  all  times,  hut  existed  nevertheless.  Oppression,  actual  or  implied, 
lay  behind  the  movement  of  the  army  or  the  action  of  the  mob. 
Men  in  a  country  like  ours  either  have,  or  fancy  they  have,  a  good 
and  sufficient  reason  for  every  action. 

So,  in  setting  forth  a  history  of  one  of  the  most  remarkably 
aggressive  movements  the  country  has  ever  known,  a  discussion 
of  the  leading  principles  and  purposes  is  necessary  to  a  full  under- 
standing of  the  chief  reasons  that  lie  behind  it  all  and  out  of  which 
the  order  has  grown. 

In  the  first  clause  of  the  declaration  of  purposes  is  found  the 
words:  "To  establish  justice,  to  secure  equity  and  to  apply  the 
Golden  Rule."  An  attribute  of  God  himself  is  justice,  a  i:iart  of 
His  nature.  The  thoughts  of  Deity  are  founded  upon  this  lofty 
]:)rinciple.  more  enduring  that  the  rock-ribbed  hills  of  granite,  and 
as  eternal  as  God  Himself. 

Statesmen  and  thinkers  in  every  age  of  the  world  have  sought 
for  this,  as  some  in  the  past  have  sought  for  the  philosopher's  stone 
or  the  fabled  fountain  of  immortal  youth.  Justice  is  represented 
by  a  pair  of  scales  evenl\-  lialanced,  breaking  neither  way.  Moore 
in  his  Utopia  dreamed  of  a  happy  place  where  full  justice  was  done 
every  man.  That  this  has  not  been  realized,  even  in  an  age  of  civ- 
ilized progress  truly  marvelous,  is  a  wonder  to  some.  However, 
when  one  class  of  people  are  confronted  by  the  greed  and  oppres- 
sion of  another  class,  justice  seems  a  long  -ways  from  ascending 
her  throne  and  wielding  her  sceptre  of  right.  The  thinker  still 
cavils  at  the  inhumanity  of  man  to  man,  and  sometimes  asks  in 


98  MISSION,,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

despair  if  the  time  will  ever  come  when  full  and  equal  justice  will 
be  done  all. 

No  class  of  people  has  ever  suffered  at  the  hands  of  another  class 
as  has  the  farmers  at  the  hands  of  trusts  and  combinations.  Laws, 
courts  and  legal  proceedings  have  all  been  on  the  side  of  the  trust 
oppressors.  Bankers,  manufacturers,  merchants  and  others  have 
received  the  bulk  of  tlie  attention  of  legislatures  and  congressional 
biders.  There  are  today  fifty  laws  on  the  statute  of  any  State 
favorable  to  banks,  factories  and  business  concerns  where  there 
is  one  favorable  to  the  farmer  or  his  interests.  These  laws  have 
created  trust  combinations  so  powerful  that  they  can  enter  the 
hall  of  congress  and  dictate  every  phase  of  legislation.  The  farmer 
has  endured  this  injustice  so  long  and  so  patiently  that  it  has  be- 
come a  sort  of  second  nature  for  him  to  meekly  accept  anything 
that  is  handed  out.  His  meekness  has  been  communicated  from 
father  to  son,  until  it  is  practically  a  fixed  principle.  The  children 
have  come  largely  to  think  of  the  well-dressed,  do-nothing  set  as 
being  better  than  they. 

The  Farmers'  Union  demands  justice  for  all  alike.  In  that 
demand  they  ask  that  legislatures  and  congresses  do  for  them  what 
they  have  done  for  others — pass  laws  that  will  be  beneficial  to  their 
interests.  The  demand  does  not  include  special  or  class  legisla- 
tion, but  such  legislation  as  shall  be  fair  and  just  to  all. 

GOLDEN    RULE. 

The  Golden  Rule.  "Do  unto  others  as  you  would  they  should  do 
unto  you,"  is  the  climax  of  a  true  man's  ambition,  but  commercial- 
ism has  changed  this  rule  to  ''Do  others  before  they  do  you." 

Franternalism  can  set  no  higher  standard  of  ethics  by  which  to 
be  governed  than  the  application  of  the  Golden  Rule,  and  the 
application  of  that  lies  at  the  very  bottom  of  all  the  dealings  and 
transactions  of  any  order  that  has  for  its  purpose  the  ameliorating 
of  evil  conditions  of  any  class.  This  rule  is  a  safe  one  by  which 
to  measure  the  actions  of  individuals  or  the  rule  of  corporations. 
The  Farmers'  Union,  believing  in  the  principle  of  right  and  not 
might,  and  believing  that  right  and  truth  will  prevail,  attaches 
much  importance  to  the  Golden  Rule. 

CI^EDIT    AND    MORTGAGE   SYSTEM. 

"To  discourage  the  credit  and  mortgage  system,"  is  declared 
to  be,  if  not  the  most  important  of  these  clauses,  at  any  rate  one  of 
the  very  important  ones.  The  credit  system  and  farm  mortgage 
usages  throughout  the  country  is  one  of  the  baneful  curses  of  farm 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  99 

life.  Farmers  secure  advances  on  crops  to  be  produced,  and  are 
charged  exorbitant  prices  for  goods.  Usually  a  mortgage  is  taken 
upon  the  goods  and  chattels  of  the  one  securing  the  advance.  In 
some  instances  farmers  have  been  charged  three  dollars  for  a  pair 
of  brogan  shoes  that  retail  in  the  market  for  one  dollar  and  twenty- 
five  cents,  and  eight  to  ten  dollars  for  a  very  cheap  grade  of  flour. 
By  this  system  two  hundred  to  five  hundred  per  cent  is  charged 
by  the  merchant.  The  farmer  who  farms  on  a  credit  is  obliged 
to  take  whatever  the  merchant  ofifers  and  pay  him  his  price  for  the 
same.  The  merchant  is  most  always  amply  secured  by  mort- 
gages many  times  the  value  of  the  amount  furnished.  The  farmer 
and  his  family  live  in  mortal  terror  of  this  advance  merchant,  and 
are  his  slaves  and  must  do  his  bidding.  Some  ixierchants  figure 
his  allowance  so  as  to  keep  the  farmer  in  their  debt  year  after  year. 

Is  it  any  wonder  that  the  farmer  feels  the  oppression  and  wears 
a  hang-dog  look,  even  on  Sundays  when  he  goes  to  church,  and 
ought  to  be  happy?  The  Farmers'  Union  is  setting  about  to 
change  all  this,  and  while  the  process  is  slow,  it  is  gradually  being 
done.  Some  figures  given  on  the  decrease  of  mortgages  in  the 
States  where  the  Union  is  organized,  by  T.  J.  Brooks,  of  Tennes- 
see, will  be  of  interest  as  an  evidence  that  it  has  a  record  on  its 
work: 

"We  find  that  in  Texas,  where  it  has  operated  longest,  the 
reduction  in  mortgages  has  been  sixty-five  per  cent ;  in 
Oklahoma,  forty-five  per  cent ;  in  Arkansas,  forty  per  cent ;  in  Ten- 
nessee, in  organized  counties,  thirty-nine  per  cent ;  in  Alabama 
and  Georgia  it  has  a  like  record." 

A  comparison  of  these  figures  with  the  figures  of  mortgages  filed 
in  other  States  where  the  Union  has  not  been  organized  or  is  yet  in 
its  infancy,  will  reveal  the  thoroughness  of  the  teaching  and  the 
success  of  the  teacher.  The  farmers  have  proven  themselves  apt 
pupils,  and  have  learned  their  lesson  well. 

The  old  system  of  buying  fertilizers  on  the  cotton  note  plan 
may  be  given  here  as  an  illustration  of  the  method  of  the  credit 
and  mortgage  system  in  vogue  before  the  coming  of  the  Union, 
or  before  the  days  of  farmers'  organizations.  The  dealer  in  fer- 
tilizer we  will  call  Mr.  Smith,  the  farmer  we  will  call  Mr.  Brown. 
Farmer  Brown  goes  to  town  in  January  and  stands  around  Mr. 
Smith's  office  for  an  hour  or  two.  He  wants  to  tell  Mr.  Smith  that 
he  wants  some  guano,  but  cannot  screw  his  courage  up  to  the 
point.  Finally  one  of  Mr.  Smith's  clerks  asks  if  there  is  anything 
"we  can  do  for  you  today?"  "Yes,"  answers  Mr.  Brown.  "I  want 
to  see  if  I  can't  arrange  to  get  some  guano."  Mr.  Smith  overhears 
this  conversation,  and  replies.  "Well.  I  don't  kno^v.     Guano  has 


100  MISSION,   HISTORY  AXD  TIMES 

advanced  lately,  and  I  am  not  so  sure  that  I  will  handle  much  of 
it  this  year.  \Miat  I  do  let  out,  I  will  have  to  have  good  security. 
Times,  you  know,  are  awfully  hard,  and  money  is  scarce." 

By  this  time  Farmer  Brown  is  trembling  down  in  his  boots,  and 
is  ready  to  sign  any  kind  of  a  contract.  The  following  dialogue 
takes  place : 

Mr.  Smith  :     "How  much  guano  did  you  want  ?" 

Farmer  Brown  :  "Well,  let's  see;  I  want  four  tons,  if  I  can  get 
that  much." 

'Sir.  Smith  :  "Four  tons  !  Goodness  gracious,  man  !  Guano  is 
awfully  scarce  and  mighty  high.  What  kind  of  security  can  you 
give  ?" 

Farmer  Brown :  "Well,  I  don't  hardly  know :  what  kind  do 
3'ou  want?" 

^fr.  Smith  :     "Well,  let's  see;  I  want  notes,  well  secured." 

Farmer  Brown :  "I  can  give  you  a  cotton  note,  due  the  first  of 
October. 

Mr.  Smith :  "Well,  I  reckon  I  can  take  a  cotton  note,  but  I 
don't  want  to.    You  see,  times  are  awfully  hard." 

Farmer  Brown  :    "\Wdl.  fix  up  the  note,  and  I  will  sign  it." 

Mr.  Smith  has  a  note  drawn  up  which  specifies  that  Farmer 
Brown  shall  on  the  first  of  October  next  deliver  to  the  said  Smith 
seventeen  hundred  pounds  of  good  middling  cotton,  for  and  in 
consideration  of  four  tons  of  guano.  The  note  creates  a  lien  upon 
Brown's  crop,  and  gives  Smith  the  right  to  enter,  seize  the  amount 
of  cotton  stipulated,  and,  further,  that  Brown  shall  pay  all  the  cost 
of  collection,  attorney's  fees,  and  so  on.  This  is  an  actual  occur- 
rence, that  may  be  witnessed  most  any  day  in  spring  in  any  town 
or  hamlet  in  the  South. 

Is  it,  then,  any  woink'r  that  the  farmer  smarts  under  these 
conditions  and  wishes  for  some  agency  by  which  they  may  be  ren- 
dered better?  Instances  there  are  where  men  have  grown  rich 
and  supercilious  by  such  methods  as  that  detailed  above. 

To  aid  each  other  in  l)uying  and  selling  is  the  one  great  aim 
of  the  movement,  and  this  aim  is  being  realized  to  a  remarkable 
degree.  To  others  will  be  left  the  duty  of  instructing  the  farmer 
how  to  grow  larger  crops  than  he  has  ever  grown  before.  Agri- 
cultural schools  are  charged  with  this  responsibility,  but  the  I'nion 
will  devote  its  energies  and  dirtrt  its  attention  toward  betier  ])rices 
for  that  which  is  already  grow  n.  1  Icrc  is  where  the  Union  meets 
a  long-felt  want  ai)])arcnt  to  ever}'  farmer. 

The  buying  ])roposition  is  also  one  of  no  minor  importance.  The 
farmer  has  been,  and   still  is,  beinsj'  charged  cni  innous  i)rotits  on 


OF    THE    1-AUMliRS'    UNION.  101 

the  j>'oqds  he  buys.  The  credit  prices  are  out  of  all  keeping  with 
right  and  justice  and  too  often  the  cash  prices  are  but  little  better. 

On  the  subject  of  education,  a  chapter  has  already  been  devoted, 
and  it  is  necessary  only  to  say  that  the  Union  is  beginning  to  realize 
the  necessity  for  better  schools.  This  happy  condition  of  affairs 
is  due  to  the  influences  of  the  Union. 

Crop  classification  is  also  dealt  with  in  this  chapter  as  a  part  of 
a  fixed  deterniinatinn  to  (.-ducatc  along  ])ractical  lines  of  l)enefit  to 
the  fanner. 

Another  avowed  purpose  is  to  bring  the  farmer  u])  lo  ilie  same 
standard  as  that  of  other  classes.  That  the  farmer  has  not  con- 
sidered himself  of  the  same  standing,  or  even  superior  to  any  other 
profession  or  calling,  is  his  own  fault.  Should  he  continue  to  re- 
gard himself  as  the  inferior  of  any  profession,  he  deserves  to  be 
the  inferior.  The  l^nion  is  struggling  to  get  him  to  see  himself 
as  he  is — the  superior  of  every  class  of  men  on  the  face  of  the 
earth.  Will-  he  see  it  ?  Stern  necessity  will  compel  him  to,  and 
the  sooner  he  does  see  it  the  sooner  he  will  take  his  place  among 
men  as  he  should  be — the  superior  of  all. 

TO   ELT.MINAT1-:   GAMBLING    IN    FAR:M    PRODUCTS. 

Gambling  in  farm  products  has  done  more  real  harm  to  the 
farmer  than  all  the  droughts,  pests,  and  diseases  wath  w'hich  he 
has  to  contend  on  his  farm.  Droughts  come  and  destroy  or 
cuts  his  crop.  Pests,  like  the  caterpillar,  the  boll  worm  and  the 
boll  weevil  in  cotton  States,  and  the  locust  and  other  pests  in  the 
grain  States,  annually  destroy  millions  of  dollars  for  the  farmer. 
Diseases  play  their  part  in  lowering  production.  The  loss  from 
these  is  very  large,  but  the  operation  of  the  grain  pits  and  cotton 
exchanges  by  gamblers  who  grow^  fat  on  the  sweat  and  toil  of  the 
poor  farmer,  cost  the  farmer  many  more  millions  annually  than 
all  these  destructive  elements  combined. 

Shall  these  bloodsuckers  continue  in  the  future  as  they  have  in 
the  past,  to  suck  and  grow  fat  ?  The  Farmers'  Union  is  an 
answer,  and  acting  on  the  unmistakable  avow^al  of  its  fixed  pur- 
pose steps  are  being  taken  to  relegate  these  to  the  rear.  In  a 
chapter  to  be  devoted  to  the  methods  of  the  Exchange,  the  subject 
is  treated  thorouchlv. 


102 


MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


STATE    OFFICIALS.    LOUISIANA    DIVISION. 
1.  J.  E.  RUM.ARD,  State  I'resldent. 

2.  C.  R.  Kelley,  Menibor  State  Executive  Committee. 

3.  J.    N.    Davis,   Membor   State   Executive   Committee. 

4.  W.   S.   .ToNKS,  Member   State  Executive  Committee. 

.5.   Dr.  N.  a.  Culberson,  Member  State  Executive  Committer 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  103 


CHAPTER  XI. 


BIRTH  AND  ORIGIN  OF  THE  UNION— CHARTER— DECLARATION 
OF  PURPOSES— THE  CONSTITUTION— BY  LAWS— REVI- 
SION OF  THE  CONSTITUTION— DR.  LEE  SEAMSTER'S 
EARLY  EXPERIENCES   WITH  THE  ORGANIZATION. 

BIRTH  AND  ORIGIN  OF  THE  FARMERS'  UNION. 

THE  first  local  Union  was  organized  at  Smyrna  Schoolhouse 
by  Newt.  Gresham,  on  the  second  day  of  September,  1902. 
The  following  officers  were  elected:  Dr.  Lee  Seamster, 
Emory,  Texas,  president;  J.  B.  Morris,  Emory,  Texas,  vice  presi- 
dent; O.  H.  Rhodes,  Emory,  Texas  secretary;  W.  T.  Cochran 
Emory,  Texas,  treasurer;  Newt.  Gresham,  Point,  Texas  general 
organizer;  T.  J.  Pound,  J.  S.  Turner,  T.  W.  Donaldson,  Jesse 
Adams  and  W.  S.  Sisk,  all  of  Emory,  Texas  directors.  Thus  it 
may  be  seen  that  the  first  local  Union  was  made  up  of  ten  men. 

The  second  local  Union  was  organized  on  the  third  day  of  Sep- 
tember 1902,  by  W.  T.  Cochran.  Early  in  the  work  W.  S.  Sisk  was 
elected  secretary-treasurer.  The  charter  of  the  first  local  Union 
was  revoked  because  of  the  stand  it  took  in  politics.  To  quote 
Mr.  Sisk  :  "We  had  quite  a  lot  of  trouble  getting  the  Union  started 
oflF  right."  Of  the  original  ten,  Lee  Seamster  was  a  practicing 
physician,  O.  H.  Rhodes  was  county  clerk,  and  Newt.  Gresham  a 
newspaper  man.  All  owned  farms,  except  Newt.  Gresham  and 
J.  S.  Turner.    These  were  farmers  living  on  rented  farms. 

A  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted  on  the  night  of  the 
organization.  The  first  constitution  embodied  the  principles  which 
were  later  worked  out  by  the  various  conventions  that  have  met 
from  time  to  time.  The  by-laws  are  practically  the  same  today 
that  they  were  then.  Time  and  the  needs  brought  about  by  the 
rapidly  growing  order  have  made  these  amendments  necessary, 
and  these  changes  have  come  as  the  organization  has  grown  and 
the  necessities  become  apparent. 

Newt.  Gresham  was  sitting  on  a  log  one  day  at  a  cross-roads 
country  store,  and  observed  the  few  woebegone  and  debt-depressed 
farmers  who  came  and  went.    Doubtless  Newt.  Gresham  recalled 


104  MISSION,,    HISTORY   AND   TI.MES 

the  time  when  the  Grange,  the  Wheel  and  the  Farmers'  Alliance 
had  made  heroic  but  unsuccessful  effort  to  break  away  from 
such  conditions  as  he  was  then  witnessing,  and  in  his  heart  of 
hearts  he  desired  to  aid  them.  There  came  to  him,  as  if  by  inspira- 
tion, a  hope  that  he  might  be  able  to  assist  them  and  thus  redress 
their  many  wrongs.  He,  too,  was  poor  and,  like  them,  had  faced 
the  credit  and  mortgage  system  then  cursing  the  South.  His  in- 
fluence with  the  rich  and  powerful  could  not  be  said  to  be  of  any 
considerable  extent. 

The  more  he  thought  of  his  and  his  neighbors'  wretched  condi- 
tions, the  more  determined  he  became  to  make  at  least  one  des- 
perate effort  in  behalf  of  the  farmers  of  his  neighborhood.  He 
did  not  know  whether  those  whom  he  wished  most  to  benefit  would 
even  be  considerate  enough  to  listen  to  his  proposition.  He  went 
away  from  the  country  store  with  a  heavy  heart.  He  issued  a  call 
for  his  friends  and  neighbors  to  meet  him.  A  few  came  and  heard 
him  outline  his  plan.  Nine  men  besides  himself  thought  favorably 
enough  of  the  plan  to  agree  to  the  formation  of  an  organization. 
Some  others  did  not  think  it  would  be  of  any  benefit  to  the  masses 
of  the  farmers,  and  Gresham  was  told  by  these  that  the  farmers 
would  not  stick. 

Sometimes  I  think  of  Gresham  as  being  like  Mahomet,  who 
when  he  became  imbued  with  the  idea  that  there  was  ''one  God, 
and  He  was  good,"  prepared  a  great  feast,  to  which  he  invited  his 
relatives,  his  friends  and  his  acquaintances.  \A'hcn  this  assembly 
had  feasted,  Mahomet  stood  up  and  told  them  of  his  vision,  de- 
claring that  there  was  but  one  God,  and  he  (Mahomet)  was  His 
Prophet.  This  declaration  was  received  with  derision.  Two  only 
of  the  crowd,  Kajiah,  his  accomplished  young  wife  and  his  idiotic 
nephew,  were  all  that  believed  in  him.  The  others  went  away, 
laughing  at  Mahomet's  idea. 

Shortly  after  the  first  local  Union  was  organized  at  Point,  Newt. 
Gresham  was  invited  to  another  community  to  tell  about  the  new 
organization,  of  which  he  was  the  founder.  Soon  other  invitations 
of  like  nature  came  to  him,  and  within  the  next  few  months  many 
local  Unions' were  organized  in  Rains  and  other  nearby  communi- 
ties. It  soon  became  apparent  that  organizers  must  be  sent  out. 
The  first  commissions  to  organizers  of  local  Unions  were  issued  to 
Alex.  Williams  of  Emory,  Ed  Gresham  of  Point,  Tom  Carroll  of 
Como,  R.  E.  Duckworth  and  J-  T-  Ross  of  Brinkcr.  and  with  tliis 
corps  of  organizers  in  the  field  this  new  organization  grew  very 
rapidly. 

This  condition  of  affairs  went  far  to  dcmonstralc  to  the  mind  of 
Newt.  Gresham  tliat  liis  first  purpose  to  organize  the  farmers  was 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION'.  105 

a  correct  mu'.  l)ut  as  tlie  (Kniaiid  fur  locals  to  be  organized  in- 
creased with  each  da\,  he  I'onnuhited  a  plan  to  carry  the  work  on 
in  a  more  extensive  manner.  Organizers  were  sent  into  Arkansas, 
Oklahoma,  Mississippi,  Indian  'I'erritory,  Louisiana,  Alabama,  and 
Georgia.  The  successes  with  which  these  organizers  met  will  be 
more  fully  told  in  a  subsequent  chapter.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that 
all  the  organizers  worked  with  a  will,  but  they  had  fierce  opposi- 
tion from  many  who  feared  that  the  Union  would  prove  detri- 
mental to  their  interests.  The  organization  was  without  news- 
papers, and  man\-  of  those  papers  that  afterward  ])roved  friendly 
to  the  order  were  afraid  to  openly  espouse  the  cause  of  the  Union. 
Some  went  so  far  as  to  dissuade  the  farmers  from  joining.  The 
trust,  seeing'  in  the  struggling  order  the  possibility  of  dangerous 
antagonism,  was  not  slow  in  doing  all  that  could  be  done  to  thwart 
the  movement.  The  politicians  cried  politics,  and  many  took  a 
firm  stand  against  the  Union.  If  ever  an  organization  had  to  face 
more  trying  enemies  and  defiant  opposition  than  the  Union  in  the 
earlier  davs  of  its  existence,  no  man  now  living  kuDws  when  or 
where. 

THE   rilARTER, 

On  August  28,  1902,  Dr.  Lee  Seamster.  O.  H.  Rhodes  and  J.  S. 
Turner  filed  in  the  office  of  T.  S.  INIcGee,  official  notary  public  for 
Rains  County,  Texas,  an  application  for  charter  for  the  Farmers' 
Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America.  This  application 
was  filed  in  the  office  of  John  G.  Todd,  secretary  of  the  state,  on 
September  17,  of  the  same  year.  The  seal  of  the  State  of  Texas 
was  affixed  to  this  charter  on  January  9,  1906,  by  O.  K.  Shannon, 
then  secretary  of  state,  at  Austin,  Texas. 

The  charter  as  filed  and  approved  is  here  given  : 

CHARTER. 

TiJE  State  of  Texas,  / 
C()UNT^"  OI-"  Rains.     ( 

Be  it  known  that  we,  the  undersigned  citizens  of  Rains  Countv, 
Texas,  hereby  make  application  for  a  charter  for  the  following 
purposes,  towit : 

1.  The  name  of  the  Corporation  shall  be  "The  Farmers'  Educa- 
tional and  Co-operative  Union  of  America." 

2.  The  purpose  for  which  it  is  formed  is  to  organize  and  char- 
ter subordinate  I'nions  at  various  places  in  Texas  and  the  L'nited 
States,  to  assist  them  in  marketing  and  obtaining  better  prices  for 
their  products,  for  fraternal  purposes,  and  to  co-operate  with  them 


106  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

in  the  protection  of  their  interest ;  to  initiate  members,  and  collect 
a  fee  therefor. 

3.  Its  place  of  business  is  to  be  in  the  State  of  Texas,  and  its 
business  is  to  be  transacted  in  Texas. 

4.  It  shall  exist  for  a  term  of  fifty  years. 

5.  The  number  of  its  officers  and  directors  shall  be  ten,  as  fol- 
lows : 

Dr.  Lee  Seamster,  Emory,  Texas,  President ;  J.  B.  !Morris, 
Emory,  Texas.  Vice-President ;  O.  H.  Rhodes  Emory,  Texas  Sec- 
retary ;  W.  T.  Cochran,  Emory,  Texas,  Treasurer ;  Newt.  Gresham, 
Point,  Texas.  General  Organizer ;  T.  J.  Pound,  J.  S.  Turner  T.  W. 
Donaldson,  Jesse  Adams,  W.  S.  Sisk,  all  of  Emory,  Texas, 
Directors. 

It  shall  have  no  capital  stock  paid  in,  and  shall  not  be  divided 
into  shares. 

Witness  our  hands  this  the  28th  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1902. 

Dr.  Lee  Seamster, 
O.  H.  Rhodes, 
J.  S.  Turner. 
The  State  of  Texas,  ] 
County  of  Rains.     ( 

Before  me,  the  undersigned  authority,  on  this  day  personally 
appeared  Dr.  Lee  Seamster,  O.  H.  Rhodes,  and  J.  S.  Turner, 
known  to  me  to  be  the  persons  whose  names  are  subscribed  to  the 
foregoing  instrument,  and  acknowledged  to  me  that  they  executed 
the  same  for  the  purpose  and  consideration  therein  expressed. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  of  office  this  the  28th  day  of 
August,  A.  D.  IQ02. 

(seal)  T.  S.  Magee, 

/.  P.  and  Ex-offlcio  Notary  Public,  Rains  County,  Texas. 

(Endorsed)  Filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  this 
17th  day  of  September,  1902. 

John  G.  Todd,  Secretary  of  State. 

I,  O.  K.  Shannon,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  State  of  Texas,  do 
hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  the  charter  of 
The  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America, 
with  the  endorsements  thereon,  as  now  appears  of  record  in  this 
department. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereto  signed  my  name  officially 
and  caused  to  be  impressed  hereon  the  seal  of  State  at  my  office 
in  the  city  of  Austin,  Texas,  this  the  9th  day  of  January,  A.  D.  1906. 

(seal)  O.  K.  Shannon,  Secretary  of  State. 

The  growth  of  the  order  now  made  a  more  comprehensive 
declaration  of  principles  a  necessity,  and  the  following  preamble 
setting  forth  these  principles  as  here  given  was  adopted : 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  107 

PREAMBLE. 

Speculators  and  those  engaged  in  the  distribution  of  farm 
products  have  organized  and  operate  to  the  great  detriment  of  the 
farming  class. 

To  enable  farmers  to  meet  these  conditions  and  protect  their 
interests,  we  have  organized  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co- 
operative Union  of  America,  and  declare  the  following  purposes : 

To 'establish  justice. 

To  secure  equity. 

To  apply  the  Golden  Rule. 

To  discourage  the  credit  and  mortgage  system. 

To  assist  our  members  in  buying  and  selling. 

To  educate  the  agricultural  class  in  scientific  farming.  ^ 

To  teach  farmers  the  classification  of  crops,  domestic  economy, 
and  the  process  of  marketing. 

To  systematize  methods  of  production  and  distribution. 

To  eliminate  gambling  in  farm  products  by  Boards  of  Trade, 
Cotton  Exchanges  and  other  speculators. 

To  bring  farmers  up  to  the  standard  of  other  industries  and 
business  enterprises. 

To  secure  and  maintain  profitable  and  uniform  prices  for  grain, 
cotton,  live  stock  and  other  products  of  the  farm. 

To  strive  for  harmony  and  good  will  among  all  mankind  and 
brotherly  love  among  ourselves. 

To  garner  the  tears  of  the  distressed,  the  blood  of  martyrs,  the 
laugh  of  innocent  childhood,  the  sweat  of  honest  labor  and  the 
virtue  of  a  happv  home  as  the  brightest  jewels  known. 

In  a  preceding  chapter  I  sought  to  show  the  extent  to  which 
the  efiforts  made  by  the  membership  of  the  Union  to  secure  better 
educational  advantages  have  gone,  and  in  a  succeeding  chapter 
I  shall  endeavor  to  show  by  incontrovertible  facts  the  success  of  the 
fight  made  against  the  speculators  in  farm  products.  In  fact,  the 
statements  given  in  this  history  may  be  truthfully  said  to  be  but 
an  elaboration  of  this  preamble. 

If  the  reader  carefully  studies  every  paragraph  of  the  preamble 
he  will  readily  see  the  effects  of  it  upon  the  movement  of  the  mem- 
bership of  the  organization,  and  if  he  has  kept  posted  on  current 
events  he  will  understand  how  thoroughly  the  teachings  of  the 
preamble  has  became  inculcated  into  the  rank  and  file  of  the 
Farmers'  Union. 

CONSTITUTION. 

The  Constitution  adopted  at  the  time  of  the  charter  is  practically 
the  one  in  force  today,  and  upon  this  constitution  is  based  all  the 
laws  that  govern  the  body.     Every  applicant  for  membership  in 


108  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

the  Farmers'  Union  is  in  dut\'  bound  to  observe  and  respect  this 
constitution,  and  that  those  who  may  not  be  familiar  with  it  may 
have  a  chance  to  study  and  understand  it,  I  deem  it  advisable  to 
insert  it  here : 

CONSTITUTION. 

ARTRLK    T. M  KM  P.ERS. 

Section  i.  All  persons  are  eligible  to  membership  who  are  of 
sound  mind,  and  over  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  a  white  person  or 
Indian  of  industrious  habits,  believe  in  a  Supreme  Being,  is  of 
good  moral  character,  and  is  a  farmer,  farm  laborer,  rural  me- 
chanic, rural  school  teacher,  physician  or  minister  of  the  gospel ; 
who  is  not  engaged  in  banking,  merchandising,  practicing  law, 
or  belongs  to  any  trust  or  combine  for  the  purpose  of  speculating 
in  agricultural  products  of  the  necessities  of  life,  or  directly  affect- 
ing injuriously  the  agricultural  interests;  provided,  the  owning  of 
bank  stock  by  an  actual  farmer  shall  not  be  construed  as  making 
him  a  banker  as  long  as  his  principal  support  comes  from  the 
farm ;  provided,  further,  that  all  editors  of  newspapers  are  eligible 
to  membership  who  will  take  the  following  obligation  : 

"I, ,  do  solemnly  promise  upon  my  honor  that  I 

will    openlv  support    the  principles    of   this    Union    through    the 

columns  of  my  paper,  the ,  and  will  do  all  in  my  power 

to  promote  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause  of  agriculture  and  the  inter- 
ests of  this  Co-operative  Union,  and  should  the  time  ever  come 
when  I  cannot  consistently  do  so,  I  will  quietly  withdraw  from  the 
Union,  and  will  remain  silent  concerning  the  workings  of  the 
same." 

Provided,  further,  that  said  editor  be  not  engaged  in  any  of  the 
occupations  prohibiting  membership  as  previously  provided. 

Sec.  2.  A  membership  fee  shall  be  paid  by  each  male  member. 
.Said  fee  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Directors  for  the  States 
not  having  a  State  Union,  but  after  a  State  Union  has  been  char- 
tered the  fee  shall  be  fixed  by  such  State  for  its  own  jurisdiction  ; 
provided,  the  fee  in  any  State  shall  not  be  less  than  one  dollar. 
.Strict  account  shall  be  kept  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  from 
each  unorganized  State,  and  when  a  State  Union  shall  be  perfected 
anv  excess  of  receipts  over  expenditures  from  such  .State  shall  be 
paid  into  the  treasury  of  such  State  within  thirty  da}s  after  the 
chartering  of  such  State  Union. 

.Sec.  3.  Females  are  eligible  to  membership  on  the  same  con- 
ditions as  males,  without  the  payment  of  fees  or  dues. 

Sec.  4.  The  dues  of  the  National  Union  shall  be  eight  cents  per 
year  per  capita,  payable  quarterly.  Each  State  shall  collect  and 
must  remit  before  the  close  of  each  quarter  the  dues  for  the  current 


oi-   iiiK  farmers'  union.  109 

quarter,  and  ii]:)on  receipt  of  said  remittance  the  quarterly  password 
shall  be  forwarded  by  the  National  Secretary  to  the  State  Secre- 
tary, and  by  him  forwarded  throui^h  the  rci^ular  channel  to  the 
secretaries  of  all  local  L'nions  in  o^ood  standinjj^;  provided,  the  next 
National  Union  may  reduce  the  national  dues  five  cents  ])er  annum, 
without  submitting'  the  same  to  a  referendum  vote. 

Sec.  5.  Each  State  Union  shall  have  full  power  to  rejj^ulate 
dues  within  said  State,  for  State,  county  and  local  purposes ;  pro- 
vided, a  State  may  include  the  National  dues  in  the  State  dues  or 
make  a  separate  item  of  the  same,  as  it  desires. 

Sec.  6.  A  special  assessment  of  ten  cents  per  capita  is  hereby 
levied,  and  shall  be  due  immediately  upon  the  ratification  of  this 
Constitution  and  By-Laws,  and  must  be  paid  within  ninety  days 
thereafter.  The  proceeds  of  this  assessment  shall  be  known  as 
an  organization  fund,  and  be  used  exclusively  for  extending  the 
Union  :  provided,  that  after  State  I^nions  have  been  formed  in  all 
agricultural  States,  this  fund  may  be  transferred  to  the  general 
fund ;  provided,  the  current  quarterly  password  shall  not  be  given 
until  this  assessment  is  paid. 

Sec.  7.  Should  these  By-Laws  be  adopted  in  lieu  of  those 
now  in  force,  then  all  arrears  of  dues  from  organized  States  shall 
be  canceled  and  all  amounts  heretofore  received  by  the  General 
Secretary  from  any  State  Union,  either  as  a  loan,  contribution  or 
payment  of  dues,  shall  be  refunded  as  soon  as  the  condition  of  the 
treasury  will  permit. 

Sec.  8.  No  member  is  entitled  to  the  quarterly  password  until 
all  dues  for  the  current  quarter  are  paid. 

Sec.  9.  No  person  shall  be  disqualified  from  membership  on 
account  of  his  religious  or  political  views. 

Sec.  10.  Any  person  qualified  for  membership  under  these 
By-LaAvs  wishing  to  become  a  member  of  the  Union  after  the 
Union  has  been  organized  and  chartered,  shall  be  required  to  offer 
his  or  her  application  in  writing  at  a  stated  meeting,  giving  age, 
occupation  and  why  he  or  she  wants  to  become  a  member,  appli- 
cation to  be  accompanied  by  initiation  fee.  Upon  receipt  of  same 
the  President  shall  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to  investigate  the 
character  of  the  applicant,  who  shall  report  as  soon  thereafter  as 
convenient.  The  candidate  may  be  initiated  at  said  meeting,  if  he 
so  desires,  and  it  suits  the  convenience  of  the  I'nion. 

Sec.  II.  All  elections  for  membership  in  the  I'nions  shall  be 
by  ballot,  and  three  black  balls  shall  reject. 

Sec.  12.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  membership  who  has 
not  lived  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  nearest  L'nion  to  him  for 
at  least  three  months ;  provided,  however,  that  should  he  be  able 
to  furnish  proof  of  good  moral  character  and  good  citizenship 
where  he  formerly  lived,  he  shall  be  considered  eligible  to  member- 
ship. 


110  MISSION^   HISTORY   AND  TIMES 

Sec.  13.  \\lien  an  applicant  has  been  rejected  or  a  member 
expelled  from  the  Union,  he  shall  not  be  permitted  to  renew  his 
application  for  the  space  of  three  months. 

Sec.  14.  Any  member  clear  on  the  books  and  otherwise  in 
good  standing,  wishing  to  transfer  his  membership  to  another 
Union,  shall  be  furnished  a  dimit  signed  by  the  President  and 
Secretary  under  seal. 

Sec.  15.  Any  person  holding  a  dimit  and  wishing  to  become 
a  member  of  another  Union,  shall  file  his  dimit  with  the  Secretary- 
Treasurer  of  the  Union  to  which  he  makes  application  for  mem- 
bership and  shall  be  declared  elected  only  upon  a  two-thirds  bal- 
lot ;  provided,  that  the  Secretary-Treasurer  shall  collect  from  the 
applicant  dues  from  the  date  of  the  dimit  at  the  rate  of  current 
dues ;  provided,  further,  said  dimit  shall  be  void  unless  application 
is  made  within  ninety  days  after  issuance. 

Sec.  16.  When  personal  or  pecuniary  differences  arise  be- 
tween members  of  the  Union,  it  is  hereby  recommended  that  as 
a  last  resort  the  Union  shall  take  it  up  and  arbitrate  the  matter, 
in  which  case  the  Union  shall  take  such  steps  as  it  sees  proper, 
and  from  which  decision  there  shall  be  no  appeal. 

Sec.  17.  Provision  is  hereby  made  by  which  any  local  Union 
may  separate  and  form  two  Unions  by  a  two-thirds  majority  vote, 
in  case  its  membership  becomes  too  large  or  unwieldly. 

An  extra  charter  will  be  furnished  them  without  cost  by  the 
National  Secretary,  when  application  has  been  made,  by  giving 
names  of  charter  members ;  provided,  the  new  Union  shall  not  be 
located  nearer  than  one  mile  from  the  parent  Union. 

Sec.  18.  Where  it  is  deemed  best  for  the  good  of  the  Union 
two  local  Unions  may  unite  their  membership  by  a  two-thirds  vote 
of  each  Union  and  by  surrendering  the  charter  to  the  National 
Secretary. 

Sec.  19.  If  any  member  shall  disclose  or  divulge  the  secrets 
of  the  Union  to  any  one  not  entitled  to  receive  the  same,  he  sliall, 
upon  conviction,  be  expelled  from  the  Union  and  his  name  pub- 
lished throughout  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Union. 

Sec.  20.  The  local  Union  shall  be  required  to  meet  as  often 
as  twice  a  month  and  shall  have  as  many  call  meetings  as  the 
business  of  the  Union  may  demand. 

Sec.  21.  All  committees  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President 
unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Union. 

Sec.  22.  All  members  present  at  any  meeting  shall  be  required 
to  vote  on  all  questions  proposed ;  provided,  visiting  members  may 
be  considered  in  an  advisory  sense,  but  are  not  allowed  to  vote. 

Sec.  23.  A  county  Union  may  be  formed  in  any  county  having 
five  chartered  Unions. 

Sec.  24.  A  county  Union  shall  be  composed  of  its  officials 
(when  elected)  and  one  delegate  for  every  ten  members  or  major- 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  Ill 

ity  fraction  thereof,  and  one  deles^ate  from  the  local  Union  at 
larj^^e ;  provided,  any  county  may  change  basis  of  representation  by 
a  two-thirds  vote  at  any  regular  meeting. 

Sec.  25.  Tt  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  local  Union  to  see  after 
and  render  assistance  to  all  sick  and  distressed  members ;  and  the 
President,  Chaplain  and  Vice  President  shall  constitute  a  relief 
committee,  and  upon  evidence  of  the  sickness  of  any  member  the 
President  shall  appoint  a  committee  to  render  all  necessary  assist- 
ance, who  shall  have  authority  to  use  any  funds  belonging  to  the 
Union  not  otherwise  appropriated. 

Sec.  26.  In  all  unorganized  States  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
local  Secretary  to  remit  all  membership  fees  monthly  to  the 
National  Secretary  and  all  dues  quarterly  in  advance  for  the  cur- 
rent quarter. 

Sec.  27.  All  elections  of  officers  shall  be  by  secret  ballot,  unless 
by  unanimous  consent. 

Sec.  2R.  A  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business  shall  con- 
sist of  five  male  members. 

Sec.  2g.  Nothiner  of  a  religious  or  partisan  nature  shall  be 
discussed  in  the  L^nion.  and  any  member  guilty  of  violating  this 
section  shall  be  expelled  from  the  Union  after  the  second  offense. 

article  ir. — officers  and  duties. 

Section  i.  The  officers  of  the  National  I^nion  shall  be  a 
President.  Vice  President.  Secretary-Treasurer,  General  Organ- 
izer and  five  Directors ;  provided,  the  office  of  Secretary-Treasurer 
mav  be  filled  by  the  same  individual. 

Sec.  2.  The  President,  Vice  President,  Secretary-Treasurer 
and  Directors  shall  be  elected  annually  and  hold  office  for  a  term 
of  one  year  or  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  3.  The  election  of  General  Organizer  and  the  work  of 
the  organizing  department  shall  be  left  to  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Sec.  4.  The  Board  of  Directors  may  appoint  an  attorney  and 
such  agents  or  other  representatives,  and  employ  such  persons  as 
may  be  necessary  to  properly  conduct  the  business  of  the  Union, 
but  all  such  appointments  shall  be  subject  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
Board  as  to  the  time  of  employment,  and  the  Board  shall  fix  the 
compensation  for  officers  not  otherwise  provided  for. 

Sec.  5.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power  to  designate 
the  manner  of  keeping  the  books  and  records  and  accounts  of  the 
Union,  and  it  shall  be  their  duty  to  see  that  all  accounts  are  kept 
in  a  neat,  accurate  and  proper  manner,  and  that  the  books  are 
written  up  and  posted  at  all  times,  to  the  end  that  an  inspection 
of  the  same  at  any  time  will  disclose  the  true  condition  of  the 
Union.  They  shall  require  a  monthly  trial  balance  to  be  taken 
at  the  close  of  each  month.     At  the  end  of  each  fiscal  year  they 


112  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

shall  cause  to  be  prepared  a  full  and  complete  statement,  showing 
the  condition  of  the  Union,  a  statement  of  the  receipts  and  dis- 
bursements, and  shall  cause  such  statements  to  be  published  in  the 
Union  papers. 

Sec.  6.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power  to  remove 
any  officer,  agent  or  employe  at  any  time  for  misconduct  in  office, 
incompetency  or  dishonesty ;  provided,  the  accused  has  the  right 
to  be  heard  at  a  trial  before  all  elected  officers,  the  accused  ex- 
cepted. 

Sec.  7.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power  to  fill  any 
vacancy  in  the  Board  or  in  any  office  by  an  appointment.  Such 
appointee  shall  hold  office  for  the  unexpired  term,  or  until  the 
next  annual  meeting,  unless  removed  for  cause. 

Sec.  8.  The  Directors  shall  receive  for  their  compensation  a 
per  diem  of  three  dollars  a  day,  transportation  and  an  allow'ance 
of  two  dollars  a  day  for  expenses,  when  called  from  home. 

Sec.  9.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  provide  a  good  and  suffi- 
cient bond  in  a  reliable  surety  company  for  all  officials  and  em- 
ployes whose  duty  it  is  to  handle  the  money  of  the  Union. 

Sec.  10.  The  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  shall 
be  held  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  National  Union. 

Sec.  ti.  The  regular  quarterly  meetings  of  the  Directors  shall 
be  on  the  first  Tuesdays  of  December,  Alarch  and  June. 

Sec.  12.  Special  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  President  or 
three  Directors,  five  days'  notice  by  wire  or  ten  b>'  mail  having 
been  given  each  member,  designating  the  purpose,  time  and  place 
of  holding  such  meeting. 

Sec.  13.  Three  members  of  the  Directors  shall  constitute  a 
quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

Sec.  14.  The  President  shall  be  the  executive  officer  of  the 
Union.  He  shall  i)resi(le  at  the  annual  meeting  and  appoint  such 
officers  as  are  necessary  from  the  delegates  present  to  aid  him  in 
opening  and  closing  the  annual  meeting  in  ritualistic  form  and 
preserving  order  and  secrecy  of  the  session.  He  shall  decide  all 
questions  of  constitutional  law.  He  shall  preside  at  all  meetings 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  but  shall  have  no  vote  except  in  case  of 
a  tie,  and  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  required  of 
him  by  the  Board  of  Directors.  He  shall  receive  for  his  services  a 
salary  of  $600.00  per  year  and  a  per  diem  of  $3.00  per  day,  trans- 
portation and  an  allowance  of  $2.00  per  day  for  expenses  when 
called  from  home. 

Sec.  15.  The  Vice  President  shall  |)erft)rm  the  dulics  of  the 
President  in  liis  absence,  or  in  case  of  his  inability  or  refusal  to 
act. 

Sec.  16.  I'hc  .Sc'cretary-Trcasinx'r  shall  keep  a  record  of  the 
proceedings  of  each  annual  meeting,  and  also  of  each  animal  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Directors.  PTe  shall  receive  and  receipt  for  all 
monev  due  the  T^nion  and  pav  out  the-  same  upon  the  order  of  the 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  113 

Board  of  Directors  duly  sis^ned  by  the  President.  He  shall  keep 
the  books  of  his  office  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the 
Board  of  Directors,  issue  all  charters,  in  unorp^anized  States  and 
for  State  Unions,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  re- 
quired of  him.  He  shall  receive  for  his  services  a  salary  of  $1,200 
a  year  and  transportation  and  an  allowance  of  $2.00  per  day  for 
expenses  when  called  from  home. 

Sec.  17.  No  National  ofificer  shall  hold  any  county,  State  or 
National  office. 

ARTICI.E    III. NATIONAL    UNION. 

Section  1.  The  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union 
of  America,  hereafter  designated  as  National  Union,  shall  be  com- 
posed of  its  officers  and  one  deleji^ate  for  each  five  thousand  mem- 
bers or  majority  fraction  thereof,  who  have  paid  dues  for  the  cur- 
rent quarter;  provided,  that  any  State  bavin"-  a  chartered  I'nion 
shall  be  entitled  to  at  least  one  representative. 

Sec.  2.  All  dele,s:ates  to  the  National  Union  shall  receive  actual 
expenses  for  attendance  not  to  exceed  $2.00  per  day,  and  transpor- 
tation to  be  paid  by  the  National  l.^nion. 

Sec.  3.  The  annual  mcetinp^  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday 
of  September  in  each  year,  at  such  place  as  may  be  desij^nated  by 
the  Board  of  Directors. 

Sec.  4.  All  deleeates  to  the  National  Union  shall  file  their 
credentials  with  the  National  Secretary-Treasurer  at  least  ten  days 
prior  to  the  annual  meetins;',  and  said  credentials  shall  be  signed 
by  the  President  and  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  State  Union. 

Sec.  5.  Delegates  absenting  themselves  from  the  session  of 
the  National  meeting  without  consent  of  the  i)rcsiding  officer,  shall 
not  be  allowed  expenses. 

Sec.  6.  The  National  Union,  when  assembled,  shall  adopt  and 
declare  minimum  prices  on  all  farm  products,  which  may  be  con- 
sidered sufficiently  in  control  of  the  membership  to  give  reasonable 
grounds  for  hoping  to  maintain  said  prices ;  may  make  its  own 
rules  and  regulations  governing  the  actions  of  the  body ;  and 
make  such  amendments  to  By-Laws  as  deemed  advisable ;  pro- 
vided, that  all  amendments  shall  be  submitted  in  writing  and 
passed  by  two-thirds  vote  of  the  delegates  present,  and  thereafter 
nnist  be  submitted  to  a  referendum  vote  of  the  entire  membership 
to  be  voted  on  within  not  less  than  thirty  nor  more  than  sixty  days 
after  adjournment  of  the  National  L'nion.  and  must  be  ratified  by 
majority  of  all  votes  cast  before  becoming  efifective.  A  uniform 
date  shall  be  provided  by  the  Board  of  Directors  for  holding  such 
elections. 

Sec.  7.  A  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business  shall  consist 
of  one  or  more  delegates  from  a  majority  of  the  states  entitled  to 
representation. 


114  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

ARTICLE  IV. INITIATIVE  AND  REFERENDUM. 

Section  i.  The  right  of  the  initiative  and  referendum  and 
imperative  mandate  shall  not  be  denied  the  members  of  the  Union. 

Sec.  2.  Five  per  cent  of  the  membership  may  petition  the 
President  to  submit  to  a  referendum  vote  any  measure  or  ask  the 
recall  of  any  officer,  and  upon  receipt  of  such  petition  he  shall  sub- 
mit the  same  to  a  referendum  vote  of  the  entire  membership, 
naming  a  date  for  said  election  not  less  than  thirty  days  and  not 
more  than  sixty  days  from  the  time  of  receiving  said  petition  ; 
and  if  a  majority  of  the  members  voting  for  such  measure  or 
recall  shall  have  cast  their  vote  for  said  measure  or  recall,  the 
President  shall  immediately  declare  the  same  to  be  enforced. 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  establish  uniform  rules 
for  holding  all  referendum  elections  and  provide  necessary  blanks 
and  return  envelopes.  The  report  of  said  vote  shall  be  signed  by 
the  President  and  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  local  Union  and  the 
seal  of  the  Union  placed  upon  the  same  and  sealed  up  in  the 
presence  of  the  Union  and  at  once  placed  in  the  mails.  Ten  days 
after  such  election  the  Board  of  Directors,  assisted  by  the  Presi- 
dent and  Secretary-Treasurer,  shall  count  and  declare  the  result 
of  such  election. 

ARTICLE  V. — STATE  UNIONS. 

Section  i.  Any  State  having  a  membership  of  5,000  male 
members  may  be  granted  a  State  charter. 

Sec.  2,  Each  State  shall  have  the  right  to  regulate  its  own 
fees  and  dues  for  State,  county  and  local  purposes,  enact  all  laws, 
rules  and  regulations  governing  the  membership  and  subordinate 
Unions  in  its  jurisdiction ;  provided,  said  laws,  rules  and  regula- 
tions shall  not  conflict  with  this  Constitution  and  By-Laws. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  State  Secretary  to  at  once 
furnish  the  National  Secretary  with  the  names  and  number  of  local 
Unions  of  male  members  in  good  standing,  together  with  the  name 
and  postoffice  address  of  each  local  Secretary. 

Sec.  4.  All  additions  to  the  membership  and  changes  in  the 
office  of  local  Secretary  shall  be  reported  quarterly  at  the  time  of 
remitting  dues  to  the  National  Secretary  by  the  State  Secretary. 

Sec  5.  Dues  for  the  National  Union  shall  be  enforced  and 
apply  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  1906,  and  shall  at  once  be  due  and 
payable  upon  the  ratification  of  this  Constitution  and  By-Uaws. 

ARTICLE    VI. — CHARTERS. 

Section  i.  The  charter  of  any  local.  State  or  county  Union 
may  be  revoked  for  the  following  causes  and  no  other : 

First — For  failure  to  pay  dues  on  or  before  the  last  day  of  the 
quarter  for  which  such  shall  be  levied. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  115 

Second — For  open  violation  of  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws 
under  which  such  Union  may  be  chartered. 

Third — Where  such  charter  was  obtained  through  fraud  or  mis- 
representation and  where  the  true  conditions  existing,  at  the  time 
the  charter  was  issued,  did  not  justify  the  issuing  of  said  charter. 

Sec.  2.  The  President  of  the  State  Union  only  shall  have  the 
right  to  revoke  the  charter  of  a  local  or  county  Union  under  his 
jurisdiction. 

Sec.  3.  The  President  of  the  National  Union  shall  have  the 
right  to  suspend  the  charter  of  the  State  Union ;  provided,  such 
suspension  is  approved  by  the  Board  of  Directors  and  then  such 
suspension  shall  be  enforced  until  the  next  annual  meeting,  to 
which  body  the  right  of  appeal  is  reserved  to  the  defendant  State, 
and  if  the  National  Union  shall  affirm  the  action  of  the  President 
and  Directors  then  said  charter  shall  be  revoked. 

Sec.  4.  States  having  been  chartered  shall  have  full  power  to 
issue  all  charters  within  their  jurisdiction. 

Sec.  5.  No  local  Union  shall  be  organized  with  less  than  five 
male  members,  and  no  charter  shall  be  issued  until  the  fee  of  $15.00 
has  been  paid. 

Sec.  6.  In  unorganized  states  county  Unions  may  be  chartered 
when  five  Unions  in  said  county  have  secured  charters. 

Sec.  7.  A  charter  is  the  authority  under  which  a  Union  works, 
and  it  is  the  duty  of  the  President  to  see  that  the  charter  is  present 
when  the  Union  is  open  for  business. 

Sec.  8.  Duplicates  for  all  charters  lost  or  destroyed  will  be 
issued  without  cost  to  any  such  Union ;  provided,  satisfactory  evi- 
dence is  furnished  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  State  or  National 
Secretary  under  whose  jurisdiction  the  same  was  issued;  and 
provided,  further,  that  the  names  of  the  officers  are  supplied. 

ARTICLE    VII. — RITUAL. 

Section  i.  The  ritual  and  secret  work  of  this  Union  is  hereby 
declared  a  part  of  the  organic  law ;  provided,  nothing  be  allowed 
in  said  ritual  that  conflicts  with  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  of 
the  Union ;  and  provided,  further,  that  said  ritual  may  be  revised 
and  changed  at  any  National  meeting  without  being  submitted  to 
a  referendum  vote. 

Sec.  2.  The  ritual  adopted  by  the  National  Union  shall  be 
used  in  all  Unions  throughout  its  jurisdiction. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Directors  to  fur- 
nish the  State  Secretaries,  at  a  minimum  cost,  the  required  number 
of  rituals  for  each  State,  from  time  to  time,  upon  proper  request 
being  made. 

Sec.  4.  The  ritual  is  the  property  of  the  National  Union,  and 
when  a  charter  is  forfeited  all  rituals  belonginc:  to  such  Union 


116 


MISSION.    HISTORY   AND   TI.MtS 


STA-IT:   uiliriAI.S   AM>   I'lM  ).M  I.NKNT   \V(  »I{K  lOKS.   LOIISIANA   DIVISION. 
I.    I..   N.   II()i,.Mi;.s.  Kx-Stalc  rrosidciu. 
'2.   .1.   N.  Di;L()Acii.  Slatf   Sccrctarv-Trfnsiiror. 
:'..   .1.  \V.  noYKTT.  .Ik..  Kx-Stnio  Secret nrvTivn surer. 
■4.    K.    \A:y.  .Mills.   Vico-J'resident. 
."..   .lAsrint  BoYKTr,  Organizer  and    I.eiiiirer. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  117 

must  be  returned  to  the  State  Secretary  under  whose  jurisdiction 
the  charter  was  forfeited. 

A  majority  of  the  clauses  of  the  Constitution,  as  here  given, 
were  adopted  formally  by  the  State  of  Texas,  and  later  by  the 
National  Union  when  it  became  an  organic  body.  The  By-Laws 
were  also  adopted  by  the  Texas  Union,  as  also  an  orrler  of  busi- 
ness which  are  still  in  force  at  the  present  time. 

BY-LAWS. 

Section  i.  Each  delegate  to  any  Union  shall  ])rcsent  written 
credentials  from  the  Secretary  of  his  Union. 

Sec.  2.  All  members  of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  good  standing 
present  at  any  meeting  of  the  L'nion  shall  be  considered  advisory 
members  of  that  body. 

Sec.  3.  All  members  in  good  standing  shall  ))e  required  to  vote 
on  all  questions  unless  excused  by  the  President,  who  shall  vote 
only  in  case  of  a  tie,  and  in  balloting. 

Sec.  4.  A  majority  vote  of  all  members  present  entitled  to  a 
vote  shall  decide  anv  ciuestion  before  any  meeting,  unless  other- 
wise specified. 

Sec.  5.  No  member  shall  vouch  for  another  in  an\-  Union  un- 
less they  have  been  together  in  open  Union  within  the  quarter. 

Sec.  6.  On  the  election  of  a  Secretary  of  any  Union,  at  any 
time,  notice  shall  be  immediately  given  to  the  Secretary  of  tl'e 
State  and  County  Unions. 

Sec.  7.  Any  officer  who  shall  fail  to  fulfill  the  duties,  or  absent 
himself  from  his  Union  for  three  stated  meetings  in  succession, 
without  valid  excuse,  shall  be  suspended  from  office. 

Sec.  8.  .Vny  proposed  amendment  to  these  Hy-Laws  shall  be 
in  writing,  at  a  stated  meeting  of  the  State  Union,  and  if  t\vo- 
thirds  of  the  members  present  vote  for  the  amendment,  it  shall  be 
adopted. 

Sec.  9.  The  discussion  of  partisan  politics  in  any  Farmers' 
Union  shall  forever  be  prohibited,  and  any  member  guilty  of  vio- 
lating this  law  shall  be  expelled  from  the  order  after  the  second 
offense. 

All  State,  parish,  district,  county  and  local  Unions,  wherever 
organized,  are  under  the  control  and  government  of  the-  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws.  There  is  no  other  law  for  the  government  of 
these  bodies,  except  by  the  rules  as  laid  down  in  the  organic  law. 
The  wisdom  becomes  apparent  when  the  growth  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  is  considered. 

At  Texarkana.  in  1006.  a  committee  of  five  revised  and  brought 


118  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

up  to  a  higher  standard  the  present  constitution.  This  constitu- 
tion remains  today,  with  a  few  modifications  and  alterations,  as 
it  was  drafted  by  the  committee.  Under  this  constitution  the 
Union  continues  to  grow  and  prosper.  As  time  and  experience 
make  the  necessity  apparent,  the  national  conventions  will  revise 
and  alter  the  constitution  as  they  deem  proper. 

EARLY  ORGANIZATION. 

Dr.  Lee  Seamster,  one  of  the  original  ten,  and  president  of  the 
board,  gives  some  very  interesting  facts  about  the  earlier  organi- 
zation, and  brings  out  some  of  the  causes  of  dissatisfaction  over 
the  organization  of  a  National  Union.     Dr.  Seamster  says: 

"In  the  little  town  of  Emory,  Texas,  in  the  year  1902,  ten  men 
met  at  various  times  and  fully  discussed  the  methods  of  formu- 
lating rules  and  plans  by  which  the  laboring  masses  might  be 
allowed  a  voice  in  the  pricing  of  their  farm  products.  After  meet- 
ing quite  a  number  of  times  we  decided  to  make  an  effort  to  organ- 
ize the  farmers  and  laborers.  We  proceeded  to  elect  officers.  We 
were  all  poor  men,  and,  of  course,  it  required  money  to  put  our 
plans  in  operation. 

"A  sum  of  money  was  borrowed  and  deposited  in  the  bank.  Our 
committee  reported  and  our  constitution  and  our  ritual  were  re- 
ceived and  all  advertising  matter  and  other  blanks  were  at  hand, 
and  we  then  put  organizers  in  the  field.  The  work  progressed  very 
slowly,  and  each  month  we  checked  on  our  deposit.  For  five 
months  I  sat  over  the  books  and  listened  to  the  words,  'We  had 
better  quit  this  foolishness,  for  we  are  growing  deeper  and  deeper 
in  debt.'  At  last  the  receipts  began  to  meet  the  disbursements,  and 
our  little  efforts  began  to  reach  quite  a  magnitude,  and  everybody 
was  discussing  the  progress  of  our  Union.  In  1903  we  saved  to 
the  farmers  of  our  county  $6,000  in  what  is  known  as  the  ginners' 
contract.  The  same  year  nearly  $500  was  saved  by  shipping  our 
cottonseed  ourselves. 

"Our  untiring  energy  soon  brought  us  to  statehood  in  Texas. 
But,  remember,  that  some  pharisees,  scribes  and  hypocrites  had 
crawled  into  our  camp  and  desired  to  set  aside  the  original  ten, 
and  take  charge  themselves." 

At  the  conclusion  Dr.  Seamster  says :  "The  Farmers'  Union 
was  instituted  to  make  men  better,  more  noble,  and  to  unite  the 
laboring  millions.  To  cause  more  confidence ;  to  inspire  in  us  that 
which  is  right ;  to  live  up  to  the  Golden  Rule ;  not  to  restore  some 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  119 

old,  broken-down  politician ;  not  to  cause  or  encourage  rascality ; 
not  for  official  personal  gain,  but  for  the  betterment  of  the  condi- 
tion of  mankind." 

Hew  to  the  line,  and  cut  out  every  obstacle  that  has  been  thrown 
in  your  pathway,  that  would  hinder  the  progress  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  in  this  nation.  Attend  our  local  Unions ;  be  prompt ;  live 
up  to  your  privileges,  and  let  your  motto  be  VICTORY,  and 
finally  we  will  achieve  that  grand  victory  that  will  lead  to  the  ac- 
complishments for  which  we  :;et  out.  Inspire  in  yourselves  the 
enthusiasm  of  Capt.  Starks :  ''Get  good  men  in  office  and  dispose 
of  some  Benedict  Arnolds  that  you  now  have,  and  success  will 
crown  your  efforts.'' 

ATTENDANCE   UPON   THE   UNION. 

From  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other  farmers  flocked  into 
the  Union.  Everywhere  witnessed  the  same  unanimity  of  desire. 
Along  with  these  same  farmers  came  a  lot  of  men  who  had  more 
or  less  political  aspirations.  In  some  way,  they  expected  to  be 
the  recipients  of  honors  in  the  political  world.  A  local  Union  in 
Mississippi  indorsed  a  candidate,  and  the  charter  was  immediately 
revoked  by  President  Bass.  The  charter  of  the  first  local  Union 
in  Texas  was  revoked,  as  stated  in  another  chapter,  because  it  got 
into  politics. 

In  some  places  where  the  politicians  and  demagogues  could  not 
have  their  way,  they  tried  to  stir  up  strife  and  discourage  the  mem- 
bers by  telling  them  that  the  Union  was  no  good.  However,  in 
most  places  a  faithful  few  were  found  assembling  on  meeting 
nights,  and  thereby  kept  alive  the  spark  of  Unionism  in  their  com- 
munity. A  poem  from  the  Railroad  Trainmen  marked  "Selected" 
appropriately  describes  the  faithful  ones,  and  is  here  given  by 
way  of  encouragement : 

THE  FAITHFUL  FEW. 

When  the  meeting's  called  to  order 

And  you  look  around  the  room, 
You're  sure  to  see  some  faces 

From  out  the  shadows  loom, 
That  are  always  at  the  meeting. 

And  stay  until  it  is  through ; 
Those  you  sure  can  count  on, 

The  Alwavs  Faithful  Few. 


120  AIISSIOX,   HISTORY   AXD   TIMi:S 

They  till  the  vacant  offices, 

And  are  always  on  the  spot, 
No  matter  what's  the  weather. 

Though  it  may  be  awful  hot ; 
It  may  be  dark  and  rainy. 

But  they're  the  tried  and  true — 
The  ones  that  you  rely  on, 

The  Always  Faithful  Few.     . 

There's  a  lot  of  worth}-  members 

\\^ho  come  when  in  the  mood, 
\\'hen  everything's  convenient, 

Oh — they  do  a  little  good ; 
They're  a  factor  in  the  order. 

And  are  necessary,  too. 
But  the  ones  who  never  fail  us 

Are  The  Always  Faithful  Few. 

If  it  were  not  for  these  faithful  ones 

Whh  shoulder  at  the  wheel, 
To  keep  the  order  moving 

\\'ithout  a  halt  or  reel. 
What  would  be  the  fate  of  orders 

That  have  so  much  to  do? 
They  surely  would  go  under. 

But  for  The  Faithful  Few. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  121 


CHAPTER  XII. 


GROWTH  AND  DEVELOPMENT— HOW  THE  TXION  CAME  TO  RE- 
CEIVE ITS  NAME— WAREHOl'SES.  I'Eiri'l  I>I/EKS— TIH'] 
LIxNlON  PRESS— ABSENCE  OF  GRAFT— HOW  (JROWTH  HAS 
BEEN  HINDERED- THINGS  ACCOMPLISHED  BY  THE 
UNION— PLOWING  UP  COTTON— REDUCIN(i  PASSENGElt 
RATES— STATE  FAIR— LETTER  FROM  LADSON— THE  MEM- 
PHIS COTTON  COMPANY— WHAT  IT  HAS  DONE— SELLING 
COTTON  WITHOUT  SAMPLES,  ETC.— UNION  CONSOLI- 
DATED WAREHOUSE  CO^H'ANY  OF  GEORGIA— PRIN- 
CIPLES UPON  ^^THCH  TO  SUCCEED. 

HOW  THE  UNION  CAME  TO  RECEIN'E  ITS  NAME. 

THE  birth  of  the  I'^arniers"  Union  was  an  auspicious  occsion 
in  the  history  of  the  American  farmers.  In  many  states 
the  mortgage  and  credit  system  had  well  nigh  bankrupted 
the  farming  clement.  Farms  were  covered  by  mortgages  that 
drew  tremendous  interest.  The  farmer,  struggling  for  a  few'  years 
to  pay  ofT  these  mortgages,  often  found  himself  unequal  to  the  task. 
His  farm  was  levied  upon  by  the  sheriff,  and  sold  in  front  of  the 
courthouse  steps  to  the  highest  bidder.  An  agent  of  the  company 
who  had  loaned  the  money  was  usually  the  purchaser  of  the  prop- 
erty. Farm  after  farm  was  passing  out  of  the  hands  of  small  land 
owners  into  that  of  money-lending  concerns.  The  country  was 
fast  drifting  into  the  possession  of  a  few. 

The  holders  of  farm  mortgages  learned  one  day  that  an  organi- 
zation of  farmers  had  been  perfected  for  the  avowed  purpose  of 
discrediting  the  mortgage  system.  They  w^ere  told  that  it  was  the 
Farmers'  Union.  People  came  to  speak  of  it  by  that  name,  and 
the  newspapers  in  giving  reports  of  meetings  always  designated  it 
as  the  Farmers'  Union.  Sometimes  they  used  the  abbreviation 
of  the  1".  E.  &  C.  U.  of  A.,  withc^ut  knowing  the  significance  of 
these  mystic  letters. 

The  real  name  is  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative 
Union  of  America — a  name  known  over  the  earth.  England  and 
Continental  Europe  are  as  familiar  with  this  name  as  any  State  in 
the  countrv. 


122  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

In  the  preceding  chapters  much  has  been  said  of  the  State 
Unions,  and  their  history  will  be  given  in  detail.  These  chapters 
deal  with  every  phase  of  the  movement,  from  the  first  local  Union 
to  the  present  time. 

So  marvelous  has  been  the  spread  that  it  is  a  matter  of  astonish- 
ment to  its  most  sanguine  friends,  as  well  as  to  its  most  bitter  and 
unrelenting  enemies. 

The  Union,  beginning  as  it  did.  with  a  mere  handful  of  uninflu- 
ential  farmers,  none  rich  or  powerful,  has  grown  by  leaps  and 
bounds.  It  began  along  the  gulf  region  of  the  South  and  spread 
north  and  west  to  Maryland  on  one  side  and  to  California  and 
Washington  on  the  other.  It  practically  covers  the  entire  farm- 
ing sections  of  the  United  States  today.  No  order  has  had  such 
unprecedented  growth  as  has  the  Farmers'  Union. 

\Miile  the  growth  has  been  phenomenal,  the  development  along- 
all  lines  of  co-operation  has  in  every  State  kept  pace  with  this 
growth.  The  Farmers'  Union  now  has  a  system  of  warehouses 
in  every  cotton-growing  State  in  the  South.  Every  State  organi- 
zation has  a  newspaper  to  herald  messages  relative  to  Union  mat- 
ters.   Some  of  the  States  either  own  or  control  fertilizer  plants. 

There  are  several  hundred  cotton  warehouses  for  the  reception 
and  storage  of  cotton.  These  warehouses  are  in  direct  touch  with 
each  other  by  means  of  a  central  cotton  company  in  each  State. 
These  are  but  a  system  of  independent  selling  agencies  co- 
operating together  for  the  general  good  and  the  welfare  of  the 
membership  of  the  Union.  The  warehouse  system  has  received 
much  attention,  and  the  perfecting  of  the  system  has  been  one  of 
much  concern  to  those  charged  with  the  duty  of  getting  the  system 
in  first-class  working  order. 

In  a  report  made  by  J.  G.  Eubanks,  State  business  agent  of 
Georgia,  the  following  occurs,  which  very  clearly  explains  the  sys- 
tem of  warehouses : 

"Some  twelve  months  ago  we  began  to  agitate  the  building  of 
warehouses.  We  saw  then,  as  now,  no  way  by  which  we  might 
open  a  channel  to  reach  the  markets  of  the  world  with  our  pro- 
ducts, especially  cotton,  without  a  system  of  warehouses,  and  on 
our  advice  of  building  warehouses  by  local  corporations,  hold- 
ing that  each  warehouse  company  should  be  a  separate  and  dis- 
tinct company,  that  all  local  companies  may  bond  themselves  as 
a  capitalized  company,  giving  each  warehouse  company  a  com- 
mercial rating,  thus  making  each  warehouse  a  gateway  through 
which  the  county  and  local  Unions  may  do  business,  the  many 
warehouses  over  the  State  not  to  be  merged  into  one  great  trust. 


OF    THE    FARMKRS'    UNION.  123 

only  by  contract  as  salesman  fur  the  producers,  who  are  the  real 
holders  of  cotton,  as  well  as  other  products. 

"This  ir.akes  the  producers  the  co-operators  through  this  sys- 
tem. To  complete  the  system  we  must  have  a  cotton  company 
serving-  as  a  bridge  over  which  we  will  be  able  to  reach  the  mar- 
kets of  the  world,  keeping  absolute  possession  of  our  cotton  until 
we  have  reached  the  spinner.  'J'his  is  necessary  that  we  may  stop 
the  stealage  that  exists  under  the  present  system.  Through  the 
system  as  promulgated  by  the  Farmers'  Union,  we  will  be  able 
to  carry  the  package,  in  its  original  shape  and  neatness,  direct  to 
the  spinner,  which,  when  offered,  will  command  a  better  price  than 
the  speculators  would  be  able  to  command  under  their  disgraceful 
methods  of  handling  cotton.  On  this  advice  the  membership  has 
organized  warehouse  companies  in  more  than  half  the  organized 
covmties  in  the  State,  some  counties  having  as  many  as  three  ware- 
house companies,  there  being  now  about  sixty  warehouses  in  the 
State  built  or  in  operation,  or  in  process  of  construction.  I  am 
sure  that  we  will  have  some  seventy-five  warehouses  completed  by 
the  first  of  September,  and  that  many  will  be  opened  for  the  season 
ready  to  do  business  through  our  co-operative  system.  The  specu- 
lators of  the  country  are  shifting  around  trying  to  head  us  off  in 
this  movement.  They  still  contend  that  we  are  not  able  to  do 
business  without  the  intervention  of  some  e^reat  speculative  com- 
pany between  us  and  the  spinners,  and  they  have  tried  every  State 
Business  Agent  to  get  an  insight  as  to  how  we  expected  to  do 
this  business.  Their  only  hope  now  in  being  able  to  use  us  is  based 
on  their  belief  of  our  ignorance  of  the  situation.  This  matter  I 
am  only  stating  behind  closed  doors. 

"The  European  spinners  are  demanding  a  change  in  the  former 
system  as  practiced  by  the  cotton  speculators  of  this  country. 
They  have  previously  been  condemning  the  American  producer 
for  the  condition  of  cotton  as  it  is  received  in  Europe,  but  through 
the  agency  of  the  Farmers'  Union  we  have  been  able  to  satisfy 
them  that  the  farmers  of  the  South  have  exerted  every  efifort  to 
give  their  cotton  a  neat  and  stout  wrapping,  but  to  our  astonish- 
ment, when  we  see  our  cotton  at  the  ports  with  great  holes  cut 
between  all  ties,  and  at  least  lo  per  cent  of  its  original  net  weight 
gone,  which  before  it  crosses  the  waters  and  while  in  transit  has 
been  made  up  with  most  miserable  wrapping  of  old  coffee  and 
sugar  sacks,  or  anything  they  could  get  hold  of  and  v^'ith  absorb- 
tion  in  transportation,  has  been  brought  up  to  its  original  weight, 
which  the  spinners  are  forced  to  pay,  less  6  per  cent  tare.  These 
pirates  of  transportation  are  always  careful  to  get  the  full  6  per 
cent  wrapping  on  a  bale,  without  the  least  regard  for  its  neatness. 

"A  cotton  speculator  told  me  recently  that  he  would  rather 
have  the  'rake-off'  between  the  gin  and  the  port  than  to  have  the 
entire  profit  made  off  the  cotton  crop. 

"As  sure  as  you  are  living,  this  is  a  part  of  the  old  system 


124  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

which  we  are  most  vitally  interested  in,  but  to  destroy  it  we  will 
have  no  easy  battle.  On  this  point  I  do  not  wish  to  deceive  you 
into  the  idea  that  it  will  be  an  easy  victory,  but  we,  the  Union 
men,  are  going  to  stand  in  line  until  the  battle  is  won." 

FERTILIZERS. 

Next  to  the  price  of  cotton  nothing  more  directly  concerns  the 
farmer  than  that  of  commercial  fertilizers. 

In  most  of  the  cotton-growing  States  the  soil  has  become  im- 
poverished by  indiscreet  farm  methods  and  long  tillage  of  the  land. 
Such  land  will  not  grow  remunerative  crops  without  artificial  aid. 
Farmers  have  devoted  the  best  years  of  their  lives  to  growing  cot- 
ton and  wearing  out  their  fields.  Fertilizers  are  necessary,  and 
hence  the  necessity  for  establishing  fertilizer  plants  for  the  manu- 
facture of  it.  Such  plants  have  been  established  in  Georgia  and 
other  States  are  planning  for  factories. 

In  an  address  delivered  to  the  membership  of  the  Union  is  was 
truly  said : 

"The  great  fertilizer  combines,  the  \''irginia-Carolina  Chemical 
Co.,  the  Reed  Fertilizer  Co.,  the  Royster,  Armour,  Swift  and  other 
smaller  fertilizer  people,  have  so  solidified  their  combines  that  the 
voice  of  one  is  the  law  of  all.  It  is  their  purpose  to  hedge  us  off 
on  every  movement.  They  have  tried  to  fool  us  into  the  idea  that 
they  were  in  possession  of  all  the  available  phosphate  mines,  but 
I  will  state  to  you  that  they  are  not.  while  they  are  pushing  their 
plans  to  get  possession  of  the  entire  phosphate  fields  at  as  early 
date  as  possible.  Once  this  is  done  they  will  have  us  hopelessly  at 
their  mercy.  I  tell  you  we  must  act  now  or  never  in  this  matter. 
Will  you  take  hold  of  this  matter  at  once?  For  by  so  doing  you 
can  stop  the  plundering  of  our  people  by  these  bandits.  You  are 
unnecessarily  paving  seven  million  dollars  each  vear  above  a  lep'iti-. 
mate  profit  to  fill  the  vaults  of  their  cofifers.  This  on  fertilizer' 
alone.  The  time  I  say  to  act  is  now,  and  I  think  that  you  are  too 
intelligent  to  defer  it,  and  too  loval  to  our  plans  of  co-oj^eration  to 
let  these  people  head  us  ofif  and  get  full  and  com]-)lcte  control  of 
such  a  monopoly." 

These  have  been  established,  and  as  a  result  the  ])rices  of  fer- 
tilizers have  been  lowered  and  millions  of  dollars  have  been  saved 
to  the  farmer  of  the  South. 

UNION    NEWSPAl'KRS. 

A  trying  ordeal  was  that  of  securing  recognition  from  the  press. 
When  the  Union  began  it  was  without  newspapers,  and  the  ])ress 
was  slow  to  recognize  the  movement.    The  ["nion  now  lias  a  press 


OF  THE  far.\ii:ks'  i"xi()X.  125 

associati(Mi  of  its  own  composed  of  the  National  Co-operator,  A.  \V. 
(Irant,  editor,  Fc^rt  Worth,  Tex.;  Farmers'  Union  Nezcs,  R.  !•". 
Duckworth,  editor,  lJnif)n  City,  (la. :  Fanners'  Union  Guide,  Agri- 
cola  &  Crouch,  editors,  l!irniini;hani,  Ala.;  The  Union  Sun.  J. 
Whitner  Reid,  editor,  Columbia,  S.  C. ;  Arkansas  Union  Tribune, 
M.  F.  Dickinson,  editor,  Conway,  Arkansas ;  The  Unio)i  Fanner, 
W.  D.  Crews,  editor,  Murphysboro.  111.;  Union  Farmer  and  Mes- 
senger. A.  11.  Callur,  editur.  liirminf^ham,  Ala.;  Fanners  Union 
Banner.  ].  .\.  Deljiacli.  editor,  W'innficld,  La.;  National  Union 
Farmer,  J.  F.  Griffni,  editdr,  .\leinpliis,  Tenn.  ;  Union  Revieiv,  J. 
K.  Armstrong',  editor,  .\rdmore  Okla. ;  Carolina  Union  Farmer, 
J.  Z.  Oeen,  editor,  AFarshville,  N.  C. ;  Mississippi  Union  Advocate, 
r>.  I'.  \\'ar<l,  editor,  Winona,  Aliss. ;  Our  Southern  Home,  Eric 
\'on  l^lexon,  editor.  Laurel  Hill,  Fla. ;  The  Guide,  Orange  Her- 
rington.  editor,  Ellisville,  Miss.;  1{.  M.  Rogers,  Topeka,  Kas., 
and  George  11.  Lang,  T  ano'don.  Col.,  each  have  a  paper.  Pacific 
Farmers'  L^nion,  J.  .M.  Reid.  1 'resident-Manager,  Pullman,  Wash. 
Prejudice  is  being  overcome,  and  the  West  and  the  South  are 
joining  hands  in  the  fight  for  the  rights  of  the  farmer  as  never 
before.  The  demand  for  universal  brotherliood  is  as  insistent  in 
the  waving  grain  fields  of  the  West  as  in  the  snowy  cotton  fields 
of  the  South. 

"From  Elaine's  dark  craigs  of  pines  and  snow. 
To  where  the  magnolias  blow." 

Ls  to  be  heard  the  same  universal  and  heart-yearning  demand. 
Nowhere  on  the  American  continent  is  there  a  ])lace  where  this 
feeling  does  not  exist. 

AP.SEXCE  OI'  GRAFT. 

In  closing  this  chapter  on  growth  and  development,  a  short  para- 
graph or  two  upon  graft  in  the  I'nion  is  admissible.  No  organiza- 
tion of  the  size  and  diversity  of  membership  has  been  so  free  from 
graft  as  has  the  L^nion.  There  has  been  no  indictment  brought 
against  any  official  charging  him  with  graft.  This  is  a  little  re- 
markable, when  all  things  are  considered.  That  there  have  been 
incentives  to  graft  cannot  be  questioned,  but  the  rank  and  file  have 
remained  loyal  and  refused  themselves  to  become  a  party  to  any 
kind  of  .graft,  or  to  allow^  others  to  practice  it  upon  the  L'nion. 

One  of  the  ]irinci]ial  charges  brought  against  some  of  the  leaders 
in  former  organizations  was  that  they  practiced  graft,  and  these 
charges,  whether  true  or  not,  were  believed  to  the  extent  that  son-ie 
of  them  had  trouble  to  disprove  the  charge.     From  the  small'?st 


126 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND   TIMES 


STATIC  OKI  ICIAI.S  AND  KX-STATE  OFFICIALS,  AHKANSAS  DIVISION. 

1.  John    Bowious,    Su.,    Stule    I'l-csldont. 

1.'.  J.    N.    .Tonics,    Vlco  rresklont. 

.'{.  .1.  'J".  Ratton,  Kx-Stnte  rrcsiclent. 

4.  I),  r.  TiN.STALi.,  lOxStalo  President. 

!">.  .T.  I).  DoYi.i;,  Ex-Mombcr  Stale  Executive  Committee. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  127 

to  the  greatest,  the  membership  and  the  officials  have  steered  clear 
of  any  and  every  form  of  graft.  This  is  something  to  the  credit 
of  the  Union,  when  the  number  of  members  and  the  number  of 
States  now  organized  are  considered. 

HOW    GROWTH    HAS   BEEN    HINDERED. 

Among  the  many  remarkable  things  that  one  finds  out  when  he 
becomes  interested  in  any  kind  of  a  reform  movement,  is  the  lack 
of  patience  shown  on  the  part  of  some.  The  impatient  fellow  is 
not  willing  to  work  on  and  wait.  He  makes  trouble  for  every- 
body, and  is  ready  to  kick  out  of  harness  if  everything  is  not  done 
instantly  that  he  wants  done.  He  is  not  willing  to  submit  to  those 
in  authority,  or  if  he  is  in  authority  himself,  he  too  often  throws 
down  everything  and  quits  for  the  most  trivial  provocation. 

Sometimes  a  very  intelligent  fellow  finds  the  rank  and  file  too 
ignorant  to  be  led  along  lines  of  usefulness,  and  he  says,  "down 
with  such  rabble ;  I'll  wash  my  hands  of  them  and  have  nothing 
more  to  do  with  the  ignorant  gang !"  These  kind  of  fellows  are 
found  by  thousands  all  over  the  country,  carping  and  cavilling 
against  those  who  are  trying  to  do  something.  Censure  seems  to 
be  their  chief  stock  in  trade. 

One  reason  why  reforms  have  not  moved  with  greater  rapidity 
is  because  the  intelligent  fellows  who  are  all  the  time  finding  fault 
will  not  come  in  and  help.  If  they  do  come,  they  are  oftimes  a 
real  hindrance  rather  than  a  help. 

Some  join  to  get  their  friends  into  an  official  position,  and  when 
they  can't,  Uiey  quit  and  say  the  Union  is  not  doing  anything. 
Others  join  to  get  into  office  themselves,  and  when  they  can't,  they 
quit,  too.  Some  of  those  who  join  have  a  great  financial  scheme 
by  which  they  expect  to  make  a  great  fortune,  and  pretty  soon 
they  find  that  they  can't  ride  the  Union,  and  they  quit.  Then  there 
is  a  large  crowd  of  those  who  expect  to  turn  the  world  over  in  a 
day,  and  because  things  do  not  go  fast  enough  to  suit  them,  they 
either  sulk  or  quit  All  of  this  is  because  of  the  lack  of  patience. 
Whoever  goes  into  a  movement  like  the  Union  must  expect  things 
to  move  slowly  and  they  must  possess  a  lot  of  patience. 

Some  are  impatient  because  we  have  not  established  a  perfect 
system  of  marketing,  and  they  are  inclined  to  raise  a  howl.  They 
go  about  saying  that  the  system  is  not  good,  and  is  but  the  result 
of  untried  plans  in  the  minds  of  the  leaders.  We  must  not  become 
impatient  because  the  Farmers'  Union  has  not  yet  established  a 
perfect  system  of  marketing.  It  took  years  to  build  up  a  great 
system  which  controls  prices.     Do  not  be  discouraged  because 


128  MISSION,   HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

you  have  not  overthrown  that  system.  You  are  building  more 
rapidly  than  they  have  builded,  and  more  solidly.  They  builded 
upon  greed  and  graft,  while  you  are  building  upon  justice  and 
equity. 

THINGS  ACCOMPLISHED  BY  THE   UNION. 

Some  people  sometimes  ask  what  has  the  Union  ever  done  to 
commend  it  to  the  respect  of  the  people  and  the  admiration  of 
the  world  ?  ^^'ere  I  to  attempt  to  give  all  the  incidents,  and  single 
out  the  repeated  instances,  time  would  fail  me  and  the  result  would 
be  a  book  of  many  thousand  pages  instead  of  a  comprehensive  book 
for  the  ready  reference  of  busy  people.  This  book  is  for  the  busy 
ones,  and  must  set  forth  in  short  and  concise  sentences  what  has 
actually  been  accomplished. 

In  May,  1907,  the  X^ational  President  issued  a  manifesto  request- 
ing the  membership  to  plow  up  at  least  ten  per  cent  of  the  cotton 
crop.  From  Texas  to  North  Carolina  hundreds  of  members  loyally 
obeyed  the  mandate  and  plowed  up  a  portion  of  their  crop.  Some 
plowed  up  more  than  ten  per  cent,  others  a  less  amount.  The  land 
plowed  up  was  planted  in  corn  and  the  cotton  acreage  considerably 
decreased.  A  record  of  the  names  of  all  who  plowed  up  their  cot- 
ton has  been  kept,  and  is  on  file  for  future  reference. 

This  sacrificial  act  on  the  part  of  the  farmers,  when  many  of 
them  could  not  seemingly  destroy  a  part  of  their  living  and  de- 
prive wife  and  children  of  comforts,  speaks  volumes  for  the  will- 
ingness of  the  membership  to  help  win  the  fight  for  better  prices 
for  cotton.  This  act  was  a  severe  test,  but  be  it  said  to  their  credit 
that  they  stood  it  in  a  manner  that  convinces  the  wgrld  that  the 
Farmers'  T'nion  stands  for  something. 

HOLDING  CQTTON. 

The  struggles  of  the  membership  to  hold  cotton  for  higher  prices 
furnishes  another  epoch  in  the  progress  and  advancement  of  the 
farming  class  in  the  South.  From  the  days  of  the  civil  war  to  the 
present,  there  have  been  but  few  efforts  made  to  maintain  anything 
like  profitable  prices  for  cotton.  These  efforts  have  been  of  very 
little  real  benefit  to  the  farmers.  The  Alliance  did  make  a  sporadic 
effort  to  influence  the  cotton  market,  but  with  few  direct  results. 
The  first  real  beneficial  movement  of  the  kind  originated  with 
the  membership  of  the  Farmers'  I'nion.  This  idea  was  a  pre- 
dominating one  at  the  time  the  first  State  L'nion  was  organized 
at  Mineola,  Texas,  and  was  among  the  principles  proclaimed  by 
every  lecturer  and  organizer  sent  into  the  field  either  to  arouse  the 
membership  or  to  plant  new  lodges  in  virgin  territory. 


OF    TIIF,    farmers'    UNION.  129 

These  cotton  hukling  iiKJvenicnts  inaugurated  year  by  year  have 
been  the  means  of  saving  the  Southern  farmers  millions  of  dollars. 
A  system  of  warehouses  stretching  like  a  continuous  chain  from 
the  northern  limit  of  cotton  to  the  coast  line  are  material  aids  in 
the  movement. 

REDUCFlJ   PASSENGER  RATES. 

During  1906  and  the  earlier  months  of  1907  much  was  said 
and  written  about  cheaper  freight  rates.  Reduced  freight  rates 
was  a  political  slogan  in  many  States  during  1906-1907,  but  in 
the  South  very  little  was  said  about  cheaper  passenger  rates  on 
the  railroads.  Some  of  the  Western  roads  had  been  forced  by 
legislative  acts  to  reduce  passenger  fares  from  three  to  two  cents 
per  mile,  but  in  the  South  many  who  were  strong  advocates  for  a 
reduction  in  freight  rates  thought  that  it  would  not  be  wise  to 
reduce  the  passenger  rates. 

The  opponents  of  reduced  passenger  rates  pointed  out  that  it 
would  cripple  the  railroads  and  destroy  the  passenger  service. 
Tills  aruument  was  heard  in  many  cjuarters.  and  there  was  none 
bold  enough  to  champion  the  cause.  Accordingly,  early  in  the  year 
1907  the  State  officials,  acting  for  the  Farmers'  Union  of  Georgia, 
filed  a  petition  with  the  Railroad  Commission  of  the  State  praying 
for  a  reduction  in  passenger  rates. 

The  hearing  before  the  Railroad  Commission  consumed  several 
days,  and  attracted  to  /Vtlanta  a  host  of  railroad  experts  and  at- 
torneys. The  best  attorneys  procurable  were  present  in  behalf  of 
the  railroads,  and  argued  every  question  and  contested  every  point. 
The  State  officials  were  alone  in  their  fight.  No  outside  help  was 
volunteered  by  any  of  the  organized  or  commercial  bodies,  and 
none  was  given.  The  labor  bodies  of  Macon  had  a  representative 
present  who  opposed  the  reduction  of  the  passenger  rates.  The 
officials  had  arranged  for  an  attorney,  but  at  the  last  mon-^ent  it 
was  discovered  that  he  could  not  be  present,  and  they  were  forced 
to  secure  another.  With  this  attorney,  secured  at  the  last  moment, 
the  officials  with  a  single  attorney  who  had  had  no  time  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  hearing,  went  before  the  commission  and  made 
such  an  efifectivc  showing  that  their  petition  was  granted. 

A  reduction  was  secured  on  all  the  principal  lines  running' 
through  the  State. 

The  best  and  ablest  lawyers  were  in  attendance  to  aid  the  rail- 
roads in  their  resistence  of  reduced  rates,  and  the  strongest  fight 
on  record  was  put  up.  The  best  railroad  men  and  the  highest  rail- 
road officials  attended.  The  petition  created  a  flurry  in  railroad 
circles  and  throughout  the  State. 


130  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

A  copy  of  the  petition  is  given  below  as  follows : 

"To  the  Railroad  Coiiiiiiission  of  Georgia,  Atlanta,  Ga.: 

"Gentlemen — Believing-  that  the  present  passenger  rate  of 
three  cents  a  mile  in  this  State  is  too  high,  and  that  there  ought 
to  be  a  reduction  thereof,  we  write  to  ask  you  to  consider  this 
matter,  reduce  the  passenger  rate  and  make  such  a  rate  as  will  be 
reasonable  and  just  both  to  the  railroads  and  to  the  public.  We 
believe  that  the  present  passenger  rate  can  be  reduced,  and  ought 
to  be  reduced.  We  believe  that  this  should  be  done  in  justice  to  the 
public,  and  would  suggest  that  you  take  into  consideration  the 
adoption  of  the  two-cent  rate  so  generally  fixed  by  various  States 
during  the  past  few  months. 

"We  do  not  wish  to  be  unfair  and  unjust  to  the  railroads.  It  is 
in  this  spirit  that  we  ask  you,  in  behalf  of  the  farmers  of  Georgia, 
to  consider  the  present  rate  and  to  reduce  the  same  to  such  a  point 
as  will  be  both  reasonable  and  just  to  all  parties  at  interest. 

"Yours  truly, 

"C.  S.  Barrett,  President  National  Union; 

"J.  G.  EuBANKS,  Business  Agent  Georgia  State  Union; 

"J.  L.  Lee,  Organizer  Georgia  State  Union; 

"R.  F.  Duckworth,  President  Georgia  State  Union; 

"J-  L-  Barron,  Secretary-Treasurer  Georgia  State  Union." 

GEORGIA  STATE  FAIR. 

The  holding  of  the  agricultural  fairs  for  the  purpose  of  bringing 
together  the  products  of  different  sections  has  long  been  custom- 
ary. These  fairs  vary  in  scope  from  small  county  fairs  to  great 
fairs  of  international  importance.  These  fairs  sometimes  have  a 
beneficial  influence  upon  the  visitors  and  incite  in  many  a  desire 
to  grow  as  good  or  better  things  than  those  exhibited. 

For  quite  a  number  of  years  the  Georgia  State  A':^ricultural  vSo- 
ciety  held  a  State  fair  at  som.e  point  within  the  State  of  Georgia 
during  the  month  of  October.  Fairs  had  been  held  at  Macon,  Val- 
dosta  and  Atlanta  under  the  direction  of  this  Society.  When  the 
Farmers'  Union  had  come  to  embrace  many  counties  in  Georgia, 
the  fair  management  set  aside  a  day  to  be  known  as  the  Farmers' 
Union  day  at  the  State  fair.  These  days  were  among  the  best  in 
point  of  attendance,  as  more  people  came  from  the  country  sec- 
tions than  upon  other  days. 

This  condition  of  affairs  being  observed.  The  Fanners'  Union 
News,  R.  F.  Duckworth,  editor,  in  an  editorial  suggested  the  idea 
of  the  State  fair  management  putting  the  supervision  of  the  fair 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  131 

into  the  hands  of  the  Farmers'  Union.  The  idea  met  with  instant 
response,  and  accordingly  the  supervision  of  the  fair  for  1908  was 
turned  over  to  the  Farmers'  I'nion. 

WARKilorSE    SYSTEM. 

Union  City,  Ga.,  November  20,  1908. 
Hon.  C.  T.  Ladsoii,  Atlanta,  Ga.: 

Dear  Sir — I  would  be  glad  to  have  you  outline  a  practical  plan 
of  co-operation  by  which  our  warehouse  s}-stem  may  be  made  more 
effective. 

You  understand  that  we  have  several  hundred  warehouses  in 
the  South  that  do  not  seem  to  me  to  be  doing  as  much  for  the 
financial  interest  of  the  farmers  as  they  ought.  These  warehouses 
have  been  built  and  financed  by  the  farmers  at  great  expense  in 
time  and  money,  and  a  plan  by  which  they  could  be  made  to  pay 
better  and  be  of  better  service  to  the  I'nion  would  be  very  accept- 
able. 

The  farmers  seem  to  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  other  interests 
pool  their  holdings  and  thereby  control  the  price  of  their  commodi- 
ties. If  you  will,  as  I  feel  sure  you  can,  outline  a  practical  and 
systematic  plan  for  getting  those  warehouses  to  co-operate,  you 
will  do  a  great  service  to  the  l"'^nion. 

Very  respectfully  yours. 
C.  S.  Barrett,  National  President  Fanners'  Union. 

reply. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  November  25,  1908. 

Mr.  Chas.  S.  Barrett,  President  National  Fanners'  Union^  Union 

City  Ga.: 

My  Dear  Sir — Replying  to  your  valued  favor  of  the  20th 
(wherein  you  ask  me  to  "outline  a  practical  plan  of  co-operation 
by  which  our  warehouse  system  may  be  made  more  effective")  I 
bave  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  : 

(i)  While  the  Farmers'  I'^nion  warehouses,  under  separate 
ownership  and  management,  are  of  great  benefit,  yet  it  is  also  true 
that  much  greater  benefits  can  be  secured  by  federating  such  ware- 
bouses  into  state  and  interstate  central  companies. 

(2)  The  reasons  for  this  are  manifold,  but  the  principal  one  is 
that  it  will  enable  the  members  to  borrow  more  monev,  and  at 
greatly  red-need  rates  of  interest. 

(3)  As  matters  now  stand  your  members  find  it  diflRcult,  as  a 
rule,  to  borrow  money  on  the  receipts  of  such   warehouse  com- 


132 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


STATK    OFFICIALS,  ARKANSAS    DIVISION. 

M.    F.    DiCKKusoN,    state    Secretary-Treasurer. 
I>\  ^V.  I'.i'.oDNAX,  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 
W.  1).  Walkku,  Moniiier  State  Executive  Committee. 
L.  M.  ItURGK,  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 
.7.  E.  KooRRS,  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  133 

panics,  except  from  local  bankers  and  merchants,  and  have  to  pay 
therei'or  high  rates  of  interest.  City  banks,  as  a  rule,  will  not 
lend  money  on  such  collateral,  not  deeming  it  sufficiently  safe,  be- 
cause such  individual  warehouses  have  but  a  few  thousand  dollars 
of  physical  assets,  and  rarely  have  any  commercial  rating. 

(4)  One  of  the  main  causes  for  low  prices  of  cotton  is  be- 
cause too  much  cotton  is  "dumped"  on  the  market  in  the  early  fall 
months,  instead  of  being  held  back,  and  sold  out  as  the  world 
needs  and  demands  it.  Whatever  will  substantially  aid  the  farmer 
in  holding  his  cotton,  and  to  sell  and  supply  the  same  according 
to  the  demands  of  the  buyers  and  spinners,  means  better  prices. 
This  is  merely  stating  a  truism,  a  fact  which  every  intelligent  cot- 
ton grower  knows. 

(5)  By  federating  all  the  Farmers'  Union  warehouses  in  each 
State,  and  forming  State  central  companies,  these  central  com- 
panies, having  such  great  financial  strength,  would  quickly  attain 
high  commercial  ratings,  and  warehouse  receipts  or  certificates, 
guaranteed  by  such  central  companies,  would  be  regarded  as  Ai 
security  or  collateral,  in  any  bank  in  the  United  States. 

(6)  And,  when  State  central  companies  have  been  successfully 
operated  for  a  season,  then,  as  a  further  beneficial  step,  these  inter- 
state central  companies  should  be  formed,  say  in  groups  of  three 
or  four  States,  throughout  the  cotton  belt.  The  combined  assets  of 
each  of  these  i"nf^7'-state  central  companies  would  furnish  such 
splendid  and  enormous  financial  strength  as  to  make  other  guaran- 
teed warehouse  receipts  good  collateral,  not  only  in  this  country, 
but  in  Europe. 

(7)  By  the  aid  of  these  strong  central  companies  ten  dollars 
could,  doubtless,  be  borrowed  where  one  dollar  can  be  borrowed 
now,  and  at  about  one-half  the  rates  of  interest  now  currently 
charged. 

(8)  In  my  opinion,  the  forming  of  these  central  companies 
would,  also,  vastly  tend  to  increase  the  number  of  Farmers'  l"^nion 
warehouses  throughout  the  South ;  and,  furthermore,  would  also 
greatly  lesson  insurance  rates,  etc. 

(9)  Furthermore,  I  respectfully  submit  that  the  forming  of 
such  strong  central  companies  will  have  to  precede  the  forming 
and  successful  operation  of  central  selling  companies.  Under  the 
present  system  of  individual,  widely  scattered,  and  often  isolated, 
warehouses,  each  under  separate  control,  it  is  hardly  possible  for 
central  selling  agencies  to  be  successfully  carried  on. 

(10)  Of  course,  to  successfully  carry  out  these  plans  will  re- 
quire a  great  deal  of  sound  business  sense.     It  will  require  loyalty 


134  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

and  confidence  andxo-operation  of  the  membersliip  now  owning" 
such  warehouses,  as  well,  also,  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the  entire 
membership.  The  most  experienced  men  should  be  placed  at  the 
head  of  such  central  companies,  and  every  responsible  ofticer  and 
agent  should  be  required  to  give  fidelity  bonds.  The  central  com- 
panies should  arrange  to  borrow  the  needed  funds,  and  no  favor- 
itism should  be  shown  to  one  warehouse  or  locality  more  than  to 
others,  in  the  distribution  of  borrowed  money. 

(ii)  The  legal  documents  creating  such  central  companies 
should  be  so  prepared  as  to  fairly  and  fully  protect  each  and  every 
stockholder's  interest  in  the  present  individual  companies. 

(12)  Such  central  state  and  inter-state  companies  can  be  legally 
formed  bv  either  exchanging  stock  now  held  in  individual  compa- 
nies for  stock  in  such  central  companies,  upon  a  fair  and  equitable 
basis,  thus  absolutely  conveying  and  merging  all  individual  com- 
panies' properties  into  central  companies ;  or 

(13)  By  the  formation  of  central  holding  companies,  by  pro- 
viding that  such  central  companies  shall  merely  act  as  trustees 
under  limited,  specified  powers,  the  equitable  title  to  the  various 
individual  companies  to  remain  in  them,  and  in  their  stockholders. 

(14)  By  either  plan  arrangements  could  doubtless  be  made  to 
allow  certain  advisory  duties  to  be  performed  by  present  board  of 
directors  in  such  individual  companies,  such  as  nominating  local 
warehousemen,  etc.,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  central  com- 
panies. 

(15)  It  is  impossible  in  a  letter  to  more  than  briefly  outline 
plans  of  this  character.  As  previously  stated,  in  order  to  make 
these  central  companies  successful,  the  loyalty,  confidence  and  sup- 
port of  your  membership  imist  he  forthcoming,  otherwise,  such 
plans,  when  attempted  to  be  put  in  operation,  like  another  business 
undertaking  lacking  in  these  essentials,  will  result  in  failure. 

Very  truly  and  sincerely  yours, 
C.  T.  Ladson,  General  Counsel  of  the  National  Farmers'  Union. 

farmers'   union   cotton   company,    MEMPHIS,  TENNESSEE. 

The  Farmers'  .Union  Cotton  Company,  of  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
owned  and  officered  by  members  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  was  or- 
ganized at  Memphis  in  1907.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows : 
J.  E.  Montgomery,  President ;  G.  R.  Hightower,  Vice-President ; 
T.  J.  Brooks,  Secretary;  B.  G.  West,  General  Manager;  R.  L. 
Jones,  Office  Manager.  Directors:  R.  H.  McCulloch,  H.  P. 
TTudson.  G.  W.  Russell,  J.  B.  Lewis,  and  H.  W.  Kyle. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  135 

Some  extracts  taken  from  a  booklet  issued  l)y  this  company  will 
be  of  interest : 

"A  legal  corporation  of  good  financial  standing,  business  ability 
and  integrity  of  purpose  is  necessary  to  assist  the  Union  member 
to  sell  his  cotton  to  the  best  advantage.  The  Farmers'  Union 
Cotton  Company  is  such  an  institution.  Its  success  depends  en- 
tirely upon  the  support  given  it  by  the  Union  membership,  both 
in  using  it  as  a  medium  thrt)ugh  which  to  sell  their  cotton,  and  by 
members  and  unions  taking  all  its  stock  as  an  investment,  thus 
giving  it  the  business  and  financial  strength  which  it  must  have  to 
secure  proper  recognition  from  the  s]Mnners  of  the  world. 

WHAT   IT   HAS   DONE. 

"It  has  been  in  practical  operation  only  about  eight  months, 
and  has  grown  from  a  comparatively  unknown  and  unimportant 
factor  into  one  of  the  largest  and  most  important  cotton  handling 
institutions  of  Memphis. 

"Where  last  fall  it  was  without  a  single  cotton  connection,  it 
now  has  many  seeking  trade  relations  with  it.  Last  fall  it  was 
without  friends  among  banks ;  it  now  has  strong  and  influential 
ones.  Last  fall  it  could  hardly  induce  any  one  to  buy  cotton  from 
it  or  the  Union ;  now  it  sells  from  the  country  warehouses  direct, 
as  well  as  from  its  Memphis,  Liverpool  and  Manchester  offices, 
and  cotton  men  from  Europe  come  to  its  Memphis  ofifice  to  get 
more  in  touch  W'ith  it.  Last  fall  it  was  spoken  of  in  derision  as 
the  'Farmers'  Experiment  Station ;'  this  fall  pages  are  written  ex- 
ploiting its  useful  systems. 

"To  sum  up:  Last  fall  it  was  an  untried,  unknown  experiment, 
while  this  fall  it  has  a  successful  season's  business  to  its  credit, 
during  which  thousands  of  bales  of  cotton  have  been  satisfactorily 
handled.  Supported  by  the  prestige  of  this  success,  having  won 
the  victory,  it  now  claims  as  a  part  of  its  deserts  the  confidence 
and  patronage  of  every  cotton  producer  in  the  fight  it  is  making. 

"This  year  we  start  on  a  proper  business  footing.  Mr.  R.  L. 
Jones,  formerly  of  Elack  Bayou,  ^Mississippi,  is  the  manager  of 
the  office,  and  being  a  man  of  systematic  methods  and  having  a 
sufficient  and  experienced  ofifice  force,  guarantees  that  everv  detail 
will  be  carefully  looked  after  and  satisfaction  insured.  All  com- 
munications and  shipments  will  be  promptly  acknowledged,  and 
every  care  used  to  make  your  business  with  us  pleasant  and 
profitable." 

The  efforts  of  the  I^nion  for  less  expensive  methods  in  reaching 
the  spinner  has  caused  some  changes  in  these  systems,  which  saves 
part  of  the  cost  of  marketing.    The  plan  most  favored  bv  the  I'nion 


136  AnSSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

has  been  the  building  of  warehouses  at  centrally  located  country 
towns  and  the  establishment  of  central  offices  in  the  large  cotton 
centers  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  the  agent  between  the  mills 
and  the  producer,  and  thus  eliminating  more  than  one  middleman. 
A  striking  illustration  of  this  plan  is  to  be  seen  in  the  workings 
of  the  Farmers'  Union  Cotton  Company  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  under 
the  management  of  B.  G.  West. 

Below  we  quote  from  a  circular  sent  out  by  this  Union  enter- 
prise : 

COUNTRY    WAREHOUSE    SELLING. 

"This  company  sells,  by  samples,  all  cotton  stored  and  intrusted 
to  us,  in  Union  country  warehouses  in  the  Memphis  territory 
where  there  are  lots  of  fifty  or  more  bales  of  even  running  grade, 
charging  a  fee  of  fifty  cents  a  bale,  taking  up  and  paying  for  it 
at  Union  w^arehouse  as  delivered.  But  before  grading,  classing, 
pricing,  selling,  etc.,  the  company  requires  that  an  agreement  be 
entered  into,  which  places  the  cotton  in  our  hands  for  sale,  and 
.<;tatine  what  price  will  be  acceptable.  This  does  not  mean  that 
we  will  not  get  all  we  can  for  the  owner,  but  it  will  be  a  guide  as 
to  what  he  expects. 

SELLING    COTTON    WITHOUT    SAMPLES. 

"We  also  sell  cotton  stored  in  country  warehouses,  without  the 
samples  being  sent  to  us  ;  selling  by  grade  and  specifying  price  the 
buyer  is  to  pay  on  each  grade ;  the  buyer  taking  up  and  paying  for 
the  cotton  at  the  warehouse  according  to  the  price  agreed  upon 
here.  It  is  impossible  to  sell  cotton  to  spinners  under  forced  sales, 
or  except  in  even  running  lots  of  fifty  bales  or  more,  and  it  takes 
time  to  reach  the  mills  :  hence,  we  must  be  given  control  of  the  sell- 
ing of  cotton  to  reach  the  right  market.  Warehousemen  desiring 
to  use  our  facilities  for  selling  cotton  should  write  us. 

PAYING    FOR   COTTON. 

''When  a  sale  is  made  the  warehouseman  storing  cotton  marks, 
weighs  and  ships,  guaranteeing  each  bale  to  be  free  from  damage ; 
bagging  and  ties  in  good  condition,  and  shipment  correct  in  every 
detail. 

"When  the  warehouse  makes  deliveries  prompt  settlements  are 
made  with  the  owners,  through  the  warehouseman,  or  the  owners 
direct,  as  soon  as  cotton  is  delivered  to  the  railroad  ;  hence  the 
warehouseman  must  be  a  capable,  honest  man,  and  should  be 
"bonded ;  otherwise  it  will  not  be  safe  to  accept  his  shipments,  as 
■this  company  guarantees  the  cotton  to  be  in  perfect  condition  when 
•shipped,  exactlv  as  represented  by  samples  from  which  sales  are 
•made,  and  that  absolute  honesty  shall  characterize  every  feature 
•of  the  business. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  137 

^'Another  method  is  that  spinners'  representatives  go  to  the 
Union  warehouse,  take  up  and  pay  for  cotton  and  assume  all  re- 
sponsibility for  shipment  and  delivery. 

SAMPLING. 

"To  save  expensive  trouble  and  insure  correctness,  each  sample 
must  represent  the  lowest  g-rade  of  cotton  in  the  bale,  as  that  will 
be  its  standing-.  Te  secure  this,  samples  should  be  drawn  from 
each  side  and  bored  from  the  center  of  the  bale.  As  we  will  have 
to  split  the  sample,  scndin^^  one  to  the  spinner  and  keeping  the 
other  for  the  owner's  and  our  protection,  they  should  be  large, 
weighing  about  twelve  ounces. 

"As  the  owner  is  responsible  for  mixed,  false  packing  and 
damaged  conditions,  and  the  warehouseman  guarantees  the  cor- 
rectness of  the  samples  and  his  work,  both  should  readily  agree 
to  this  and  avoid  reclamations,  which  are  most  annoying  and  ex- 
pensive. 

"Where  the  warehouse  has  an  agreement  with  the  company  to 
sell  cotton  stored  with  them,  and  sends  us  proper  samples  (express 
.charges  prepaid)  and  each  sample  showing  marks,  weight  and 
number.'with  name  of  owner  and  where  cotton  is  stored,  we  give 
full  information.  In  sending  samples  be  sure  to  tag  or  mark  the 
sacks  or  papers  containing  the  samples  with  your  name  and  post- 
office  with  a  coupon  showing  number  and  mark  of  each  bale  inside 
the  sample.  We  received  many  sacks  of  samples  last  season  with 
no  name  or  place  on  them  to  tell  where  they  were  from.  On  re- 
ceipt of  samples  they  are  placed  in  the  rack  and  left  until  the 
n-'arket  conditions  make  it  possible  to  secure  the  price  fixed  by  the 
shipper  or  owner,  when  thev  are  placed  on  the  sample  table,  classed 
and  offered  for  sale  at  the  highest  price  experienced  and  capable 
cotton  salesmen  believe  it  will  stand. 

"T.et  us  impress  upon  vou  that  Unions  and  warehousemen  should 
refuse  to  have  anything  to  do  with  cotton  when  there  i?  any 
question  of  its  not  being  honestlv  and  properly  packed. 

ADVANCES. 

"The  company  does  not  make  advances  on  cotton  stored  in 
country  warehouses,  as  it  cannot  see  to  its  proper  handling  and 
insurance,  and  understands  local  banks  take  care  of  it.  When  your 
local  bank  cannot  make  advances  we  shall  be  glad  to  help  you  get 
the  money  and  leave  vour  cotton  in  your  local  warehouse.  But  7i'e 
do  make  liberal  advances  on  cotton  shipped  us  at  Memphis,  Man- 
chester, England,  and  TAverpool,  England,  charging  interest  at 
rate  prevailing  dav  loan  is  made." 

Formerlv,  tlic  farmer  usually  hauled  his  cotton  to  the  nearest 
town  and   sold  it  to  a  local  buver,  who,  in  turn,  nearlv  aUvavs 


138  MISSION,   HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

shipped  it  to  a  commission  merchant  in  a  bigger  market,  who  in 
turn  sold  to  another  buyer,  who  in  his  turn  sold  to  the  cotton  mer- 
chant in  some  spinning  center,  who  then  sold  it  to  the  spinner. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  give  here  the  methods  used  by  the  larger 
cotton  buyer,  who  in  all  big  markets  has  connections  or  selling 
agents,  generally  cotton  merchants,  in  spinning  centers.  He  sends 
types  of  various  quotations  of  cotton  to  these  connections,  marked 
with  his  individual  class  for  each  quality ;  he  quotes  prices  landed 
at  the  mill  on  such  qualities  as  he  desires  to  sell.  In  case  of  a  sale 
he  goes  on  the  market  and  buys  as  near  as  possible  the  quality  and 
quantity  sold.  It  is  often  the  case  that  in  making  up  a  proper 
shipment  the  buyer  is  Compelled  to  buy  cotton  in  round  lots,  some 
of  which  will  not  pass,  and  this  he  has  to  find  a  sale  for  in  other 
places. 

When  a  sale  is  made  for  delivery  at  some  future  time,  the  buyer 
does  not  always  buy  at  once  the  spot  cotton,  as  charges  and  interest 
often  make  this  impracticable,  so  he  protects  himself  by  the  pur- 
chase of  futures  against  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  market. 

The  buyer  pays  all  insurance,  storage,  interest,  freight  an<l 
brokerage,  guaranteeing  weights  and  quality.  On  all  business  in 
the  United  States  he  has  a  three-pound  allowance  for  loss  in 
weight ;  on  practically  all  business  to  other  countries  he  deducts 
six  per  cent  from  his  invoice  weight  here,  drawing  for  the  weight 
only. 

In  figuring  this  price,  he  deducts  for  his  own  profit  and  the  loss 
in  weight,  as  well  as  all  allowance,  all  of  which  the  farmer  has  to 
stand. 

CHARTER   AND  BY-LAWS  OF   UNION   CONSOLIDATEP  WAREHOUSE 
COMPANY  OF  GEORGIA. 

CHARTER. 

SiATE  OF  Georgia,  ] 
Campbell  County.  ( 
To  the  Superior  Court  of  said  County: 

The  petition  of  W.  W.  Webb.  Lowndes  County ;  D.  K.  Jonos, 
Tattnall  County;  W.  C.  Wood,  Henry  County;  F.  D.  Wimberly, 
Pulaski  County;  M.  L.  Johnson,  Bartow  County;  H.  ^1.  Spinks, 
Green  County ;  C.  A.  Newcomer,  Ben  Hill  County ;  J.  L.  Lee, 
DeKalb  County,  respectfully  shows : 

I.  That  they  desire  for  themselves,  their  associates  and  suc- 
cessors, to  be  incorporated  and  made  a  body  politic  for  the  period 
of  twenty  years,  with  the  privilege  of  renewal  at  the  expiration  of 
that  period,  under  the  name  and  style  of  Union  Consolidated 
Warehouse  Com  pan  v. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  139 

2.  The  capital  stock  of  said  corporation  shall  be  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  ($]oo,oooj  of  the  par  value  of  five  dollars  ($5.00) 
per  share. 

Petitioners  desire  the  rit^ht  to  increase  said  capital  stock  from 
time  to  time  by  a  majority  vote  of  its  stockholders,  to  an  amount 
not  to  exceed  the  sum  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

3.  Petitioners  pray  that  subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock  may 
be  paid  in  cash,  or  in  real  and  personal  property,  or  in  the  assets  of 
similar  or  other  cotton  warehouse  companies,  at  their  reasonable 
value,  and  also  the  ri^^ht  to  pay  for  such  assets  of  similar  or  other 
cotton  warehouse  companies  incorporated  or  unincorporated,  by 
issuing  to  such  other  or  similar  warehouse  companies,  its  common 
or  other  stock  in  exchange  for  their  assets,  including  warehouse 
buildings,  franchises,  good  will,  etc.,  upon  such  fair  terms  of  pur- 
chase or  exchange  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  its  Board  of  Directors 
of  said  Union  Consolidated  Warehouse  Company  and  said  similar 
or  other  warehouse  companies,  or  their  stockholders  or  owners ; 
with  the  right,  by  said  sale  or  exchange  of  its  said  stock,  to  com- 
pletely buy,  merge  and  own  such  other  or  similar  warehouse  com- 
panies, or  to  exchange  or  sell  its  stock  for  a  part  of  the  capital 
stock,  or  other  holdings  or  assets  of  other  or  similar  warehouse 
companies,  incorporated  or  unincorporated. 

Petitioners  desire  the  right  to  commence  business  when  ten  per 
cent  of  its  capital  stock  shall  have  been,  paid  in,  either  in  cash,  or 
its  equivalent  in  property  as  hereinbefore  mentioned. 

4.  The  principal  office  of  said  corporation  shall  be  at  Union 
City,  Campbell  County,  Georgia,  but  petitioners  pray  that  they  be 
allowed  to  operate  branch  offices  in  other  parts  of  the  State  of 
Georgia,  and  in  other  States  and  in  foreign  countries. 

5.  The  object  of  said  corporation  is  pecuniary  gain  for  its 
stockholders. 

6.  The  business  to  be  carried  on  by  said  corporation  is  to  buy, 
build,  own,  lease  and  operate  warehouses  throughout  the  State 
of  Georgia ;  to  engage  in  the  business  of  storing  and  warehousing 
cotton  and  other  farm  products  for  hire ;  to  issue  negotiable  or  non- 
negotiable  warehouse  receipts  or  cotton  certificates,  as  needed, 
upon  cotton  or  other  farm  products  stored  in  any  of  the  warehouses 
owned  or  controlled  by  said  corporation,  and  to  provide  for  secur- 
ing and  guaranteeing,  by  pledging  all  or  any  part  of  its  physical 
or  other  assets,  or  bv  obtaining  other  guarantees,  at  the  discretion 
of  its  Board  of  Directors ;  to  buy  and  sell  cotton  and  other  farm 
products  for  itself,  or  as  agent  or  trustee  for  its  stockholders,  or 
other  persons  or  corporations,  upon  commission ;  to  aid  its  mem- 
bers or  stockholders  in  borrowing  monev  upon  their  cotton,  or 
other  farm  products,  when  safely  stored  in  the  warehouses  of 
either  of  them,  of  said  corporation  :  upon  its  guaranteed  warehouse 
receipts ;  also  to  bofrow  money  upon  its  own  initiative  for  the  pur- 
pose of  lending  same  to  its  stockholders  upon  their  cotton,  or  other 


140 


MISSION,   HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


I'UOMIXKM-  WOIJKKKS,  ARKANSAS  AND  MlSSOUKl  DIVISIONS. 

1.   Alex.  Davi.s,  Arkansas,  Assistant  to  National   Secretary-Treasurer. 
2.   II.    I{i;i:ciii;u    I.kwis,    Arkansas,    liCoturer. 

3.  Ben   L.  (Jkikfin.   Arkansas,   Kx  Stale   Secretar.v-Troasnrer. 

4.  W.    IT.    CJLILI-KN.    Mlssonrl,    rroiuincnt    Orfiani/.er. 

5.  JoiTN  A.  nL.\CKi'"oitii,  Arkansas,  I^x-Condnrtor  National  TTnlon. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  141 

farm  products,  as  pledj^^e  or  collateral,  and  to  mortgage  or  pledge 
its  own  assets  to  also  further  secure  such  loans,  for  the  purpose, 
among  other  things,  of  enabling  such  stockholders  to  hold  their 
cotton,  etc,  in  their  efforts  to  secure  fair  and  better  prices  therefor. 

7.  No  one  shall  be  a  stockholder  in  said  corporation  who  is 
not  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union 
of  America. 

A  warehouse  company  the  ownership  of  whose  stock  is  exclu- 
sively held  by  members  of  said  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co- 
operative Union  of  America,  may  buy  and  own  shares  of  stock  in 
said  corporation  in  its  own  behalf,  but  shall  not  dispose  of  or  sell 
the  same  to  any  one  not  a  member  of  said  Farmers'  Educational 
and  Co-operative  Union  of  America,  without  first  offering  same 
to  this  corporation  and  allowing  it  ninety  days  within  which  to 
cancel  said  stock  on  its  own  books  and  pay  par  value  therefor. 

In  case  of  the  death  of  a  stockholder,  then  his  executor  or  ad- 
ministrator shall  first  offer  for  sale  said  stock  to  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  this  corporation. 

8.  Petitioners  desire  for  said  corporation  the  power  and  au- 
thority to  apply  for  and  accept  amendments  to  its  charter  by  a  vote 
of  a  majority  of  its  stockholders. 

They  also  ask  for  authority  for  said  corporation  to  wind  up  its 
affairs,  sell  its  assets,  liquidate  and  discontinue  its  business  as  it 
may  determine  to  do  so,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  its  stockholders 
at  any  time. 

9.  Petitioners  desire  the  right  to  sue  and  be  sued,  contract  and 
to  be  contracted  with,  to  have  and  use  a  common  seal,  and  to  make 
and  enforce  such  reasonable  by-laws  and  regulations  as  may  be 
necessary  to  carry  on  the  business  of  said  corporation ;  to  purchase, 
own,  lease,  sell  and  otherwise  acquire  and  dispose  of  property  of 
all  kinds,  real,  personal  and  mixed,  as  may  be  necessary  or  useful 
to  its  business  operations. 

10.  Wherefore,  petitioners  pray  an  order  incorporating  them, 
their  associates,  successors  and  assigns  under  the  name  and  style 
aforesaid,  with  all  the  privileges  and  powers  herein  prayed  for, 
together  with  such  other  powers  and  privileges  as  may  be  neces- 
sary, proper  and  incidental  to  the  conduct  of  its  business,  and  as 
may  be  allowed  to  like  corporations  under  the  laws  of  Georgia. 

And  petitioners  will  ever  pray,  etc. 

C.  T.  T>ADS0N,  Petitioners'  Attorney. 

BY-LAWS. 
I. — OFFICERS. 

There  shall  be  a  President,  Secretary-Treasurer  and  a  Board  of 
Directors  consisting  of  five  members. 


143                      '               MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 
II. ELECTION   OF  OFFICERS. 

The  President  and  Board  of  Directors  shall  be  elected  at  the 
first  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  and. shall  serve  for  one  year,  or 
until  their  successors  shall  have  been  duly  appointed  or  elected. 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  the  power  to  fill  any  vacancies 
in  either  of  said  ofifices,  for  the  unexpired  term  thereof. 

III. DUTIES   OF   PRESIDENT. 

The  duties  of  the  President  shall  be  to  have  a  general  super- 
vision of  the  business  of  said  corporation.  He  shall  have  his  office 
at  the  main  office  of  said  corporation  at  Union  City,  Georgia.  He 
shall  not  engage  in  any  other  business,  but  shall  devote  his  entire 
time  and  attention  to  the  duties  of  said  office  of  President.  He 
shall  keep  in  thorough  touch  and  knowledge  with  all  the  business 
affairs  of  said  corporation,  and  shall  visit  or  have  visited  the  dif- 
ferent warehouses  belonging  to  and  operated  by  said  corporation 
at  least  as  often  as  once  per  quarter,  examining  into  their  condition 
and  methods  of  operation,  and  exacting  of  the  warehousemen  in 
charge  of  said  warehouses  strict  and  capable  attention  to  their 
duties ;  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  the 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  except  as  may  be  hereinafter 
provided,  he  shall  appoint  the  various  warehousemen,  hire  such 
other  employes  of  said  corporation  as  may  be  necessary  for  the 
proper  and  business-like  conduct  of  affairs. 

He  shall  require  each  and  every  warehouseman  to  furnish  good 
and  sufficient  fidelity  bonds. 

He  shall,  as  far  as  may  be  practicable,  arrange  for  uniform  ware- 
house receipts  to  be  used  by  all  of  the  warehouses  of  said  corpora- 
tion ;  he  shall  secure  the  lowest  possible  rates  of  fire  insurance  upon 
cotton  in  such  warehouses,  and,  tooether  with  the  Secretary- 
Treasurer,  and  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  shall  dili- 
gently examine  into  and  provide  all  practicable  and  convenient 
methods  and  arrangements  of  warehousing,  so  as  to  minimize  dan- 
ger from  fires,  both  in  the  alteration  of  old  warehouses,  and  in  the 
construction  of  new  warehouses,  to  the  end  that  cheaper  insurance 
mav  be  thereby  obtained. 

He  shall  preside  over  the  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
in  the  absence  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Board,  and  may  call  special 
meetings  of  said  Board  at  his  discretion,  or  upon  the  written  re- 
quest of  a  majority  of  said  Board  of  Directors,  by  giving  five  days' 
notice  of  such  meeting,  bv  mail,  or  three  days'  notice  by  wire.  His 
salary  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Directors.  lie  shall  furnish 
a  fidelity  bond  to  said  corporation  in  such  sum  as  may  be  deter- 
mined l)v  saifl  Board  c)f  Directors, 


OF  THE  farmers'  union.  143 


\\. — DL'TIES    OF    Si:CKi:TAK'i-rKK.\srKi:k. 

The  Sccretar} -Treasurer  shall  be  elected  by  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors, and  likewise  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the 
faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office.  He  shall  make  de- 
tailed semi-monthl}'  reports  to  the  President  and  Board  of  Direc- 
tors, of  the  business  affairs  of  his  office.  He  shall  attend  all  meet- 
ings of  the  stockholders  and  keep  correct  minutes  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  such  meetings.  All  funds  of  said  corporation  shall  be  kept 
in  a  bank,  or  banks,  to  be  selected  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  the 
same  to  be  deposited  in  the  name  of  said  corporation  by  him,  and 
no  funds  shall  be  checked  out  of  said  bank  or  banks  unless  signed 
by  the  President  and  Secretary-Treasurer,  jointly. 

All  checks  made  payable  to  said  corporation  shall,  before  being 
deposited  in  bank,  be  endorsed  by  both  President  and  Secretary- 
Treasurer.  His  salary  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 
The  Secretary-Treasurer's  books,  vouchers,  accounts,  etc.,  shall 
at  all  times  be  subject  to  the  inspection  of  the  President  and  Board 
of  Directors,  and  shall  be  examined  and  audited  by  an  expert  audi- 
tor to  be  selected  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  at  least  every  three 
months,  or  oftener  in  the  discretion  of  the  Board,  and  the  report 
of  such  auditor  shall  be  made  direct  to  the  Board  of  Directors. 

\". HOARD  OF  DIRECTORS ITS  DUTIES. 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  elect  a  chairman,  who  shall  pre- 
side over  the  meeting  of  said  Board. 

The  Board  shall  meet  at  Union  City,  Georgia,  at  least  once  in 
every  six  months,  and  oftener  in  their  discretion. 

The  Board  may  call  a  special  meeting  of  the  stockholders  at  any 
time  by  giving  thirty  days'  notice  by  pu1)lishing  such  call  once  per 
week  for  four  weeks  in  the  Farmers'  Union  Nczvs.  The  members 
of  said  Bo»rd  shall  receive  three  dollars  per  day  and  two  dollars 
per  day  for  expenses  and  all  railroad  fares  for  each  day  devoted 
to  the  duties  of  said  Board. 

\T. STOCK  lIOr.DERS'    MEETINGS. 

The  stockholders  shall  meet  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  Board 
of  Directors  may  select  in  each  year,  and  al!  executive  officers,  and 
the  Bc-ard  of  Directors,  shall  make  written  reports  of  the  afTaii--  of 
their  various  offices,  at  such  annual  meeting.  The  stockholders 
shall  elect  the  President  and  Board  of  Directors  of  said  corpora- 
tion at  such  annual  meeting. 

\ir. I'.USIXESS    OF    SAID    CORPOR.VTION. 

•Until  further  and  especially  directed  by  the  stockholders,  at 
any  annual  or  called  meeting,  the  business  of  said  corporation  shall 
be  confined  to  carrxing  on  the  business  of  owning  or  controlling 


144  MISSION,   HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

and  operating  cotton  warehouses ;  making  proper,  and  as  near  as 
may  be  practicable,  uniform  cliarges  for  storage,  weighing,  grad- 
ing, handUng,  etc.,  cotton,  and  selHng  same  upon  commission. 

And,  as  hereinafter  provided,  in  the  interest  of  its  stockholders, 
members  of  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of 
America,  aid  such  members  to  obtain  loans  at  the  lowest  obtainable 
rates  of  interest  upon  their  cotton. 

\"III. LOAN    DEPARTMENT. 

The  President,  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  Chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Directors,  shall  constitute  a  loan  committee  of  said  corporation^ 
and  no  loan  shall  be  made  to  any  person  unless  it  meets  with  the 
concurrence  and  written  approval  of  each  member  of  said  loan 
committee. 

Said  loan  committee  shall  not  lend  money  to  any  person  whom- 
soever except  upon  cotton  which  the  owner  thereof  (and  bor- 
rower) may  desire  to  hold  in  the  endeavor  to  obtain  better  prices 
therefor,  and  they  shall  not  lend  more  than  70  per  cent,  on  the 
then  current  market  value  thereof,  and  only  after  said  cotton  shall 
be  found  by  said  loan  committee  to  be  free  from  any  other  or 
superior  liens,  and  after  same  shall  have  been  stored  in  one  or 
more  of  the  warehouses  of  said  corporation,  and  properly  insured. 

The  commission,  or  charges,  for  procuring,  etc.,  such  loans  to 
be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  agreed  to  by  the  borrower. 
Whenever  said  loan  committee  in  order  to  get  low  and  satisfactory 
rates  of  interest,  and  loans,  for  the  members  of  said  corporation, 
or  stockholders  thereof,  and  to  that  end  to  furnish  better  and  more 
ample  security,  such  committee  may,  upon  the  approval  of  the 
Board  of  Directors,  and  as  further  security  to  the  pledge  of  the 
cotton,  itself,  to  be  borrowed  upon,  execute  the  guarantee  of  said 
corporation  in  the  form  of  guaranteed  warehouse  receipj:s,  or  cotton 
certificates,  thus  pledging  any  or  all  of  the  assets  of  said  corpora- 
tion to  make  good  its  guarantee  in  such  behalf ;  nor  shall  said  loan 
committee,  or  any  other  officer  or  agent  of  said  corporation,  sell, 
pledge  or  mortgage  any  property  or  other  assets  of  said  corpora- 
tion, without  the  approval  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  except  as 
herein  provided. 

IX. 

When  said  corporation  shall  acquire  by  purchase,  or  exchange 
of  its  stock,  the  warehouses  and  other  assets  of  existing  or  future 
warehouse  companies,  thus  merging  and  consolidating  such  other 
warehouse  companies  into  the  Union  Consolidated  Warehouse 
Company,  then  the  old  stockholders  who  shall  thus  become  stock- 
holders in  this  corporation,  shall  have  the  privilege  of  appointing 
three  of  such  old  stockholders,  who  shall  act  as  a  local  governing 
committee ;  and  such  committee  shall  have  the  power  of  recom- 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  145 

incndin<^  a  suitable  person,  a  stuckholclcr,  as  warehouseman  for 
such  newly  eccjuired  warehouse,  and  the  Board  of  Directors  of  this 
corporation  shall,  in  the  absence  of  specific  disqualifying^  causes, 
appoint  such  warehouseman  so  nominated  by  said  local  f^overning 
committee,  to  manage  such  warehouse ;  and,  in  all  other  substantial 
matters  concerning  the  local  affairs  of  such  warehouses,  the  Board 
of  Directors  shall  pay  especial  heed  to  the  advices  and  recommen- 
dations of  such  local  governing  committee,  who  shall  continue 
stockholders  in  this  corporation,  to  the  end  that  as  far  as  may  be 
practicable  the  former  stockholders  of  the  locality  where  such 
merged  warehouse,  or  warehouses,  may  be  situated,  may  have  a 
controlling  voice,  by  way  of  recommendation,  etc.,  in  the  local 
affairs  and  management  of  such  local  warehouses. 

Nevertheless  this  corporation  shall  at  all  times  have  and  retain 
the  supervision  and  control  of  all  warehouses  that  it  may  thus  ac- 
quire by  merger,  purchase  or  otherwise,  and  all  warehousemen  of 
such  former  individual  warehouse  companies  shall  at  all  times  be 
subject  to  the  direction  and  control  of  this  corporation,  and  sub- 
ject to  dismissal,  and  new  ones  appointed  in  his,  or  their  stead. 
at  the  sound  discretion  of  the  oflficers  and  directors  thereof. 

X. DISTRIP.UTION  OF  LOANS. 

Such  loan  committee,  as  far  as  may  be  practicable,  shall  fairly 
and  equitablv  distribute  such  loans  as  it  mav  obtain,  as  provided 
in  By-law  eight,  among  the  stockholders  applyinsr  for  same,  in  just 
proportion  to  the  number  of  stockholders  formerly  holding  or  own- 
ing stock  in  such  merged  warehouse,  showing  no  preference  among 
said  former  warehouse  company  stockholders  of  locality,  and  the 
Board  of  Directors  shall  be  especially  charged  with  the  duty  of 
supervising  such  distribution. 

XI. SELLING    AGENCY. 

The  President,  Secretary-Treasurer  and  Chairman  of  said  Board 
of  Directors,  shall  likewise  constitute  a  Selling  Agency,  or  com- 
mittee for  the  purpose  of  selling  the  cotton  of  the  stockholders 
who  may  desire  said  corporation  to  do  so,  direct  to  the  spinners,  or 
other  acceptable  buyers,  either  in  the  United  States,  or  abroad, 
and  therebv  eliminate  the  middleman  as  far  as  practicable,  in  the 
effort  to  bring  fairer  prices,  and  at  less  expense  to  the  owners  of 
cotton. 

."^uch  Selling  .Vgi^icy  shall  prepare  and  submit  to  the  Board  of 
Directors,  for  their  approval,  a  systematic  plan  of  operations  amply 
protecting  the  owners  of  cotton,  and  clearly  defining  the  powers, 
duties  and  commissions  of  this  corporation  as  selling  agent,  or 
trustee,  etc.,  etc. 

Such  Selling  Agency  shall  require  daily  reports  from  the  diff'er- 
ent  warehousemen  during  the  cotton  selling  season,  of  all  cotton 

10 


146  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

deposited  with  said  warehouse  for  sale,  showing  marks,  weights, 
grades,  names  of  owners,  etc.,  of  such  cotton,  and  shall  keep  a 
separate  set  of  books,  records  and  accounts  of  the  business  of  such 
Selling  Agency. 

Such  Selling  Agency  shall  account  to  and  make  just  settlement 
with  all  owners  of  such  cotton  immediately  upon  the  consumma- 
tion of  sales. 

GROWTH  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

The  ultimate  success  of  the  F.  E.  and  C.  U.  of  A.,  like  other 
organizations,  depends  upon  the  unity  of  action  of  its  members. 
Separately,  they  are  powerless,  united  they  are  invincible.  No 
power  can  overthrow  them  if  they  co-operate  together.  This  co- 
operation should  be  carried  on  in  the  marketing  of  crops,  for  if  a 
product  is  rushed  on  the  market  in  excess  of  demand,  the  price  of 
that  product  goes  down.  Coal  mine  owners  and  other  like  cor- 
porations furnish  samples  of  co-operation  in  maintaining  prices, 
as  do  the  lumber  dealers.  For  one  cause  and  another  the  output 
of  mines  and  mills  are  curtailed  so  as  not  to  overcrowd  the  mar- 
ket. In  the  case  of  coal  mines  only  enough  is  raised  to  meet  the 
demands,  as  is  the  case  with  lumber. 

Steel  mills  and  like  concerns  also  furnish  examples,  and  if  the 
farmer  would  manage  his  farm  and  the  products  of  the  same,  he, 
too,  could  maintain  equitable  prices  for  his  cotton,  grain  and  other 
farm  products.  If  the  prices  of  lumber  start  down,  the  saw  mills 
are  closed  until  such  a  time  as  the  demand  for  lumber  makes  it 
profitable  for  these  mills  to  run.  One  reason  for  the  depressed 
condition  of  the  cotton  market  is  the  rushing  of  a  great  volume 
of  cotton  on  the  market  at  one  time. 

Let  the  farmer  learn  a  lesson  from  others. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  14' 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


BUSINESS  AGENT'S  DEPARTMENT— REASONS  FOR  ESTABLISH- 
ING DEPARTMENT— EIIBANK'S  EXPERIENCE  GIVEN- 
CARLOAD  LOTS  OF  FLOUR  SECURED  CHEAPER  PRICES 
AND  LOWER  FREIGHT  RATES.  ONE  WAY  TO  KILL  A 
TOWN— THE  REJOINDER— FIGHTING  THE  TRUSTS— CO- 
OPERATIVE CONCERNS  OF  THE  UNION. 

THE  BUSINESS  AGENt's  DEPARTMENT. 

WHEN  the  Union  had  gotten  on  its  feet,  so  to  speak,  there 
was  a  demand  for  the  establishment  of  business  depart- 
ments which  should  more  effectually  carry  out  that  section 
in  the  declaration  of  principles  which  applies  to  aid  rendered  the 
membership  in  buying  and  selling. 

Several  ineffectual  efforts  had  been  made  early  in  the  move- 
ment to  deal  direct  with  jobbers  and  wholesalers.  These  offorts 
were  made  by  local  Unions,  and  a  few  by  county  organizations, 
but  the  jobbers  and  wholesalers  frankly  told  the  representatives  of 
local  and  county  Unions  to  go  to  their  retail  merchants. 

The  treatment  accorded  the  membership  by  jobbers  and  whole- 
salers made  the  business  department  for  each  State  a  necessity; 
accordingly  most  of  the  States,  through  their  Executive  Commit- 
tees, established  business  departments  and  placed  them  in  charge 
of  busines  managers.  In  several  of  the  States  the  business  mana- 
gers and  other  members  of  the  official  family  have  had  disagree- 
ments, and  in  many  instances  disruptions.  Georgia  is  the  only 
State  that  has  maintained  its  business  office  intact  and  in  the  oper- 
ation of  which  very  much  benefit  has  come  to  the  people. 

J.  G.  Eubanks,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  alsewhere,  has  been 
in  charge  of  the  Georgia  department  since  its  organization,  and 
under  his  management  it  has  been  a  success. 

Knowing  the  difficulties  with  which  Mr.  Eubanks  was  con- 
fronted in  systematically  organizing  the  business  department,  and 
his  experience  in  devising  plans  of  a  business  nature,  I  accordingly 
wrote  him,  asking  him  to  give  me  his  experience  in  outlining  plans 
and  the  obstacles  with  which  he  met.    His  reply  is  as  follows : 


148  mission,  history  and  times 

"Union  City,  Ga, 
"Mr.  C.  S.  Barrett,  Union  City,  Ga.: 

"Dear  Sir  and  Brother — Replying-  to  your  inquiry  regarding 
tiie  laying  the  foundation  for  the  business  plans  of  the  Farmers' 
Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America  in  Georgia,  I 
beg  to  say  that  you  remember  I  was  elected  to  fill  my  present 
position,  State  Business  Agent.  January  31.  1906. 

"There  was  a  great  deal  of  printers'  ink  spent  in  those  days 
picturing  how  the  farmers  might  sell  cotton  direct  to  the  spinners, 
eliminating  the  profits  of  the  speculators.  My  contention  was  then, 
as  now,  that  this  was  a  fight  of  years  with  the  great  cotton  kings 
who  have  been  dividing  Southern  territory,  co-operating  together, 
keeping  down  competition — that  they  were  not  going  to  permit 
this  great  monopoly  to  slip  from  their  hands  without  a  great  strug- 
gle, and  that  while  this  fight  was  going  on  we  should  inaugurate 
a  s5^steni  of  buying  which  would  teach  our  people  lessons  in  co- 
operation as  well  as  save  them  money. 

"1  knew  from  past  experience  that  in  this  we  would  also  meet 
bitter  opposition,  but  if  our  plans  were  well  laid  that  we  would 
succeed.  It  was  my  desire  to  offer  Georgia  wholesalers  and  manu- 
facturers our  business,  knowing  they  would  reject  it.  It  was  not 
their  purpose  to  break  down  their  system  of  doing  business,  which 
gives  jobbers,  wholesalers  and  retailers  profits  between  manufac- 
turers and  consumers.  We  considered  the  burden  too  much  for 
our  people  to  pay.  I  called  on  manufacturers  and  wholesalers  of 
Atlanta,  Rome,  i\lacon,  Columbus,  and  Savannah,  with  no  results, 
but  was  not  in  the  least  discouraged. 

"I  called  on  one  large  wholesale  grocery  company.  The  head  of 
the  firm,  like  others,  referred  me  to  my  retail  groceryman,  and 
said  I  ought  to  return  home  to  plowing.  I  told  him  'that  I  had 
been  sent  out  by  fifty  thousand  organized  farmers,  and  that  I  would 
not  then  return  to  the  plow,  and  that  he  knew  that  I  would  not 
do  it.  On  the  other  hand,  he  knew  that  I  would  accomplish  what 
I  had  set  out  for,  if  I  had  to  cross  the  Ohio  River  for  it.  'Mr.  C — , 
I  have  offered  you  my  business ;  I  have  fulfilled  my  duty ;  you  are 
driving  me  to  where  I  am  going — to  the  miller,  manufacturer  and 
importer — for  business.  While  it  is  my  desire  to  patronize  home 
enterprises,  at  your  bidding  I  must  go  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
State  for  business  for  my  people.  The  interstate  freight  rates  are 
in  my  favor.  Having  these  advantages,  with  the  co-operation  of 
fiftv  thousand  farmers.  I  will  hurl  a  volume  of  business  with  such 
force  against  the  wall  that  ])rotects  your  iniquitious  system  that 
it  will  crumble.    T  will  make  it  vour  desire  to  sec  me  in  the  future.' 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  149 

"I  immediately  bei^an  the  orsianizin<i;  of  the  membership  into  a 
business  system,  reciuestinj^-  local  and  county  Unions  to  elect  a 
Business  Agent,  the  names  of  which  made  my  list.  I  made  a  trip 
to  the  Middle  West,  closed  contracts  with  flouring  mills  and  manu- 
facturers ;  also  closed  deals  at  the  ports  with  importers  of  coffee. 

"My  many  years  of  experience  in  the  lumber  business  and  mer- 
cantile business,  in  connection  with  these,  had  familiarized  me 
with  the  methods  of  shipping  and  transportation  generally.  It  was 
not  many  weeks  until  I  was  loading  package  cars  with  provisions 
antl  shipping  into  Georgia,  breaking  l)ulks  at  common  points  in  the 
State,  giving  our  people  the  advantage  of  interstate  and  full  car-lot 
rates  on  local  lots  of  goods,  which  were  delivered  at  the  different 
shipping  points  after  breaking  bulk,  and  what  is  known  as  the 
blanket  system. 

"Shipping  in  full  cars  also  gave  us  niilling-in-transit  rates  on 
flour.  This  rate,  coupled  with  interstate  rates  and  the  blanket  sys- 
tem of  delivery,  gave  our  members  car-lot  rates  on  single-barrel 
lots  of  flour — a  rate  not  enjoyed  by  local  merchants  buving  in  less 
than  c9r-lots. 

"T  estimate  by  having  this  system  of  delivery  to  have  saved  our 
people  two  hundred  and  seventy-six  dollars  freight  on  one  ship- 
ment of  flour,  being  that  much  less  than  regular  published  rate  on 
local  shipments. 

"These  things  are  not  appreciated,  for  the  fact  is,  people  are 
ignorant  of  it,  even  after  explained. 

"It  has  ever  been  my  policy  to  look  after  our  own  business, 
never  antagonizing  the.  business  of  others.  I  remember  having 
gone  over  one  hundred  miles  on  two  dififerent  occasions  to  pre- 
vent GUI'  members  in  county  conventions  from  boycotting  whole- 
sale merchants  who  they  felt  had  mistreated  them.  I  have  ever 
contended  we  should  attend  to  our  own  business  and  let  the  busi- 
ness of  others  alone. 

"In  reference  to  the  business  departments  of  other  States,  I  can 
speak  from  observation.  Most  of  them  have  made  a  failure,  which 
came  about  through  several  causes.  Some  very  active  men  have 
been  placed  at  the  head  of  some  of  the  State  business  departments, 
with  ambition  nuich  ahead  of  their  ability  to  accomplish,  lacking 
either  in  financial  backing  or  business  training.  Some  of  them, 
being  more  optimistic  than  practical,  spent  time  and  money  on 
impractical  theories,  in  place  of  taking  hold  of  things  thev  could 
have  done  for  the  people.  Some  of  the  failures  have  been  caused 
by  nonco-operation  of  the  membership. 

"No  difference  how  well  qualified  a  man  may  be  for  this  work, 
he  can  do  nothing  without  the  continuous  support  of  his  people. 


150  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

"I  have  in  mind  an  executive  committee  in  one  of  the  States  who 
elected  a  man  to  take  charge  of  their  business  department  who  was 
well  qualified  for  the  position,  and  a  more  conscientious,  hard 
worker  has  never  entered  service  for  a  people.  For  a  long  time 
he  received  the  loyal  support  of  his  constituency,  saving  to  them 
in  his  State  millions  of  dollars.  Even  his  worst  critics  will  admit 
this ;  but,  alas !  from  some  cause,  presumably  from  outside  influ- 
ences, the  membership  withdrew  their  support,  and  down  went  the 
business  department,  and  our  comrade  with  it. 

"We  dislike  to  look  at  the  dark  side  of  a  picture.  We  prefer  to 
believe  that  after  the  hosts  have  captured  the  field  that  by  right 
belongs  to  them,  that  they  would  not  assassinate  their  captains, 
give  up  all  to  the  subdued,  unconditionally  ground  their  arms  and 
return  to  their  former  state  of  servitude. 
"Fraternally, 
"J.  G.  EuBANKS,  State  Business  Agent." 

Some  have  gone  so  far  as  to  claim  that  co-operative  business 
movements  damage  or  kill  towns.  This  criticism  has  been  ably  met 
by  D.  Cohalin,  of  Iowa,  who  has  long  been  a  leader  and  defender 
of  co-operation.  The  reply  to  the  criticism  was  in  answer  to  a 
newspaper  charge  that  co-operate  business  concerns  had  killed  the 
town  of  Rockwell.  The  newspaper  charge  and  Mr.  Cohalan's  reply 
are  given  that  the  people  may  have  both  sides  of  the  question : 

ONE  WAY  TO  KILL  A  TOWN. 

"Some  years  ago  the  town  of  Rockwell,  Cerro  Gordo  County, 
was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  little  towns  of  the  State.  The 
Farmers'  Co-operative  Society  was  organized,  and  commenced  to 
handle  grain  and  coal.  Later  they  took  farm  machinery,  and  con- 
tinued to  absorb  di liferent  businesses  of  the  town,  until  they  han- 
dled everything  in  the  town.  Other  merchants  fought  to  maintain 
themselves,  but  the  struggle  was  a  hopeless  one.  Business  of  all 
kinds  became  depressed,  and  the  town  commenced  to  nm.  down. 
Now  the  buildings  are  unpainted,  and  real  estate  has  depreciated 
until  it  is  hardly  worth  25  cents  on  the  dollar.  Business  men  are 
doing  all  they  can  to  get  out  of  town.  Farms  in  that  vicinity  that 
a  few  years  ago  were  worth  %^o  to  $too  per  acre  have  depreciated 
in  value,  until  $60  and  $70  is  a  good  price.  Real  estate  men  have 
giving  up  trying  to  induce  settlers  to  come  to  that  place,  for  the 
reason  no  one  cares  to  buy  a  farm  near  a  dead  town,  no  matter 
how  much  the  land  is  worth.  The  condition  of  Rockwell  is  ex- 
actly what  will  happen  if  the  farmers  around  a  good  town  will  set 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  151 

about  destroying  it  by  unfair  and  by  unjust  competition.  The 
farmers'  movement  was  all  right  if  it  had  stopped  at  the  right 
place,  but  when  it  went  the  whole  length  and  destroyed  the  town, 
then  it  hurt  them  more  than  the  small  profit  the  merchants  were 
making  upon  the  goods  they  sold  them.  They  have  saved  a  little 
on  their  goods,  and  destroyed  the  value  of  their  farms  as  a  conse- 
quence."— Manson  Journal. 

THE   REJOINDER. 

"This  is  a  foolish,  lying  statement,  calculated  for  effect,  but  too 
silly  and  vicious  to  command  any  respect.  However,  as  a  citizen  of 
Rockwell,  and  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Society  of 
that  town,  I  will  lay  the  facts  in  the  case  before  you,  and  challenge 
a  contradiction  of  my  statement.  Rockwell  is  a  modest  little  town 
located  on  the  Iowa  Central  Railway,  twelve  miles  south  of  Mason 
City,  in  Cerro  Gordo  County.  The  railroad  was  located  and  the 
town  started  thirty-six  years  ago.  A  monopolistic  combination  of 
grain  buyers  came,  built  elevators,  and  began  business  in  grain, 
coal,  lumber,  general  supply  store,  etc.  They  fixed  prices  so  as  to 
insure  them  enormous  profits,  fixed  their  scales  so  as  to  insure  them 
safe  weights,  and  fixed  their  terms  of  credit  so  that  any  account 
standing  on  their  books  thirty  days  bore  interest  at  ten  per  cent 
per  annum.  These  were  the  conditions,  and  the  farmers  had  to 
accept  their  prices,  weights  and  terms.  This  monopolistic  com- 
bination controlled  the  markets  and  trade  of  Rockwell  for  twenty 
years,  yet  the  population  of  Rockwell  at  the  end  of  the  twenty-year 
term  of  the  combine  was  only  381  ;  the  total  value  of  all  the  real 
estate  and  personal  property  of  the  town  at  the  end  of  the  twenty 
years  was  only  $44,000.  There  was  not  a  brick  or  stone  building 
in  the  town ;  the  only  schoolhouse  in  the  town  at  that  time  was  an 
old  shack  that  is  now  used  for  a  blacksmith  shop.  There  was  not 
three  blocks  of  good  sidewalk  in  the  town ;  no  fire  protection ;  no 
light  of  any  kind.  Only  two  very  cheap  church  buildings,  two 
clergymen  and  one  doctor.  There  was  no  bank — in  fact,  there  was 
no  enterprise  of  any  kind  except  the  profit-taking  combine. 

"In  those  days  in  Rockwell  the  farmers'  lot  was  a  hard  propo- 
sition, as  there  was  general  complaint  on  every  side  by  the  farmers 
of  the  price  and  weight  of  their  grain.  A  man  that  got  more  than 
1,700  pounds  in  a  ton  of  coal  was  lucky,  and  if  he  got  within  loc 
a  bushel  of  the  Chicago  price  for  his  oats  he  was  fortunate.  A 
dollar  a  ton  on  coal  and  a  dollar  a  hundred  on  hogs  was  the  cus- 
tomary net  profit  for  the  combine.  Five  dollars  a  thousand  on 
lumber  was  the  usual  profit.    Our  farmers  took  this  kind  of  medi- 


152  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

cine  for  twenty  years.  Finally,  in  March,  1889,  the  farmers  got 
together  and  organized  a  Farmers'  Co-operative  Society.  This 
was  notice  to  the  combine  that  a  day  of  reckoning  had  come,  for  in 
the  future  the  farmers  proposed  to  do  business  for  themselves. 
(Bear  in  mind,  at  this  time  the  population  of  the  town  was  381, 
and  the  assesor's  value  of  all  real  and  personal  property  in  the  town 
was  $44,000.)  The  Farmers'  Society  went  to  work  in  real  earnest, 
procured  $1,000  in  stock  subscriptions  and  borrowed  $1,000  from 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Mason  City,  for  one  year  without  in- 
terest. 

FIGHTING  THE   TRUST. 

"Business  was  commenced  at  once,  and  a  struggle  for  existence 
ensued.  The  combine  at  once  raised  the  price  of  grain  and  lowered 
the  price  on  coal,  but  the  farmers,  being  loyal,  stood  by  their  so- 
ciety, and  when  any  of  our  members  sold  to  the  combine,  they  came 
to  our  manager  and  paid  him  a  commission  on  every  bushel  sold  to 
an  outside  dealer  as  the  by-laws  of  our  society  required.  In  this 
wa>-  the  combine  got  the  grain  when  they  paid  more  than  its  true 
value  for  it.  and  our  society  got  a  commission  on  every  bushel  sold. 
This  battle  continued  for  five  years,  and  after  many  trials  and 
difficulties  our  society  gradually  gained  in  assets  and  retained  the 
confidence  of  its  members  and  the  respect  and  sympathy  of  the 
community.  So  much  so,  that  at  the  end  of  five  years  the  combine 
withdrew  from  the  business  field  in  Rockwell  and  left  the  farmers 
master  of  the  situation.  At  the  end  of  six  years  we  had  500  mem- 
bers, $20,000  employed  in  our  enterprise,  and  the  town  and  sur- 
rounding country  had  made  wonderful  progress.  Conservative, 
level-headed  men  came,  engaged  in  business,  and  were  successful, 
and  general  prosperity  has  reigned  in  Rockwell  under  the  leader- 
ship of  the  Farmers'  Incorporated  Co-operative  Society. 

"The  society  is  now  rounding  out  its  seventeenth  year  and  is  in 
a  most  flourishing  condition.  The  town  of  Rockwell  today  is  a 
Chicago,  compared  with  Rockwell  of  monopoly  rule,  which  had  full 
power  in  Rockwell  for  twenty  years.  There  are  two  buildings  in 
Rockwell  now  that  cost  more  than  all  the  buildings  in  the  entire 
town  at  the  time  of  the  or£ranization  of  the  society.  Let  me  enu- 
merate some  of  the  good  things  we  now  have  in  Rockwell : 

CHURCHES   AND   SCHOOES. 

"We  have  five  churches,  two  schools,  the  combined  value  of  all 
church  and  srhrin]  jiroperty  being  $75,000. 


OF    THE    lAUMKk.s'    UNION'.  153 

"The  popiilntion  has  more  than  doiil)led  since  the  days  of  the 
combine,  and  the  assessor's  vahie  of  the  town  for  the  year  1905 
is  $474,548. 

"How  does  this  compare  with  the  newspaper  chpping-  referred 
to?  The  Farmers'  Co-operative  Society  handles  all  kinds  of  grain 
and  seed,  flour,  feed,  oilmeal,  wire  nails,  oils,  paints,  wagon 
grease,  salt,  farm  machinery,  binding  twine,  wagons,  buggies,  boots 
and  shoes,  rock,  brick,  sand,  cement,  lime,  lumber,  coal,  cattle  and 
hogs. 

"Go  in  the  country  north,  south,  east  or  west  and  you  find  a 
beautiful  farming  country,,  dotted  with  groves,  and  every  farm 
improved  with  splendid  dwelling  houses,  mammoth  barns,  grana- 
ries, corn  cribs,  etc.,  the  material  in  nearly  every  case  being  bought 
of  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Society.  Talk  with  the  farmers,  and 
you  will  find  that  95  per  cent  of  them  are  members  of  the  society. 
Ask  them  which  of  the  numerous  towns  is  the  best  town  to  trade 
in?  Which  of  the  markets  pay  the  best  price  for  grain?  Where 
they  get  the  best  lumber,  coal,  binding  twine,  etc.,  for  the  least 
money?  And  the  answer  will  be  Rockwell.  Ask  them  about  the 
value  of  their  farms,  and  you  will  find  the  present  value  is  the 
highest  in  the  history  of  the  county.  You  will  also  find  land  values 
$5  per  acre  higher  in  Farmers'  Co-operative  territory  than  where 
the  land  is  out  of  reach  of  such  territories.  If  you  consult  the  rent- 
ers, you  will  find  they  would  give  50  cents  per  acre  annually  more 
for  land  located  near  a  Farmers'  Society  than  ten  miles  awav  from 
one.  Go  to  the  banks,  inquire  about  the  financial  standing  of  those 
connected  with  the  co-operative  society ;  you  will  be  surprised  to 
find  many  of  them  worth  from  $20,000  to  $50,000,  and  a  score  or 
more  of  them  worth  from  $60,000  to  $100,000.  The  Farmers'  Co- 
operative Society  of  Rockwell  has  been  one  of  the  means  of  this 
wonderful  accumulation.  Tn  all  of  the  seventeen  years  in  which 
the  society  has  done  business  there  has  been  no  complaint  about 
dishonest  weights  by  anyone  dealing  with  the  society.  Entire  con- 
fidence and  perfect  harmony  is  the  outspoken  sentiment  of  all  mem- 
bers."— Extracts  from  address  by  D.  Cohalan. 

THE  UNION  PHOSPHATE  COMPANY. 

Numerous  co-operative  business  concerns  have  been  promul- 
gated by  the  Union,  one  of  the  most  important  of  which  is  the 
Union  Phosphate  Company  of  Georgia.  The  Union  h^czi's  had  this 
to  say  of  the  company  in  an  editorial  at  the  time  the  company  was 
chartered : 


154  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

"When  we  began  to  organize,  we  learned  that  we  could  better 
ourselves  by  buying  and  selling  in  bulk  on  most  articles  produced 
and  consumed  by  a  farmer.  We  had  not  been  organized  long  when 
we  learned  that  we  must  have  cotton  warehouses,  through  which 
to  handle  our  cotton.  This  removed  one  obstacle.  From  this  we 
also  started  the  plan  of  co-operation,  but  we  soon  learned  that  this 
was  not  enough,  and  that  some  kind  of  a  plan  must  be  had  by 
which  the  strength  of  these  warehouses  must  be  concentrated,  that 
we  might  remove  the  other  obstacles  by  going  direct  to  the  spinner 
with  our  cotton.  We  are  now  completing  these  plans,  and  by  and 
by  the  farmer  will  be  selling  through  his  own  agents  his  cotton 
direct  to  the  buying  agents  of  the  manufacturer. 

"We  also  started  out  to  buy  implements  of  all  kinds  used  on 
the  farm.  We  went  to  the  manufacturers,  and  they  laughed  at  us. 
They  said,  *Go  back  and  buy  them  from  your  local  dealer.'  We 
asked  them,  'What's  the  use ;  they  would  not  sell  us.'  We  were 
willing  to  allow  one-half  the  profit  that  the  local  dealer  now  gets, 
but  with  a  sneer  they  turned  us  away.  We  discussed  the  matter, 
and  decided  that  we  would  have  to  manufacture  our  own  imple- 
ments. We  now  have  a  factory  in  operation,  and  a  few  more  thou- 
sand dollars  subscribed  by  the  members  of  the  organization,  and 
the  implement  trust  must  treat  with  us. 

"We  went  to  the  fertilizer  companies  and  we  asked  them  to  sell 
to  our  agents  direct  from  the  factories,  and  save  to  the  farmer  at 
least  one-half  the  local  dealer's  profit.  They  said,  'No,  you  farm- 
ers have  no  business  buying  your  fertilizer  from  us.  We  do  not 
want  to  sell  to  you.  We  want  j:o  sell  to  the  merchant.'  We  asked 
them,  was  it  the  merchant  that  used  the  fertilizer,  or  was  it  the 
farmer,  but  this  did  not  appeal  to  them,  and  they  turned  us  away 
from  their  doors  with  us  begging  for  only  one-half  the  profit  we 
were  paying  the  local  dealers.  We  came  home  despondent,  but  de- 
termmed  not  to  give  up.  We  went  to  work.  We  employed  men  to 
investigate,  and  we  have  organized  a  fertilizer  company,  and  last 
year,  in  Georgia  alone,  at  an  outlay  of  $10,000  to  the  membership, 
Georgia  farmers  were  saved  $180,000.  The  fertilizer  people  who 
were  posted,  admit  this  themselves. 

"Have  we  acted  unjustly?  Haven't  we  done  our  part?  We 
did  not  want  to  build  an  implement  factory,  we  did  not  want  to 
build  a  guano  factory.  We  preferred  to  allow  other  people  build 
them  if  they  would  treat  us  right.  We  did  not  turn  them  away 
from  us,  but  we  went  to  them,  not  only  as  one  gentleman  should  go 
to  another,  but  we  went  to  them  begging  for  consideration. 
They  refused   t.     They  said  :  'No,  you  farmers  go  on  back  and  go 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  155 

to  plowing- ;  quit  trying  to  attend  to  your  own  business ;  you 
haven't  got  sense  enough  to  do  it.'  Do  you  believe  that  we  should 
bow  our  heads  under  such  conditions  as  we  have  in  the  past  ?  We 
hardly  think  that  even  the  fertilizer  and  implement  people  them- 
selves say  that  we  did  wrong. 

"The  members  in  every  county  and  community  in  Georgia  are 
taking-  stock  in  one  or  other  of  these  concerns.  As  they  begin  to 
take  notice  and  realize  the  importance  of  the  consideration  they 
will  take  stock  now.  It  is  only  a  question  of  time  when  every  one 
of  them  will  become  thoroughly  aroused  and  subscribe  for  at 
least  one  share  in  each  of  these  institutions,  and  when  that  is  done 
the  Georgia  farmers  will  be  the  most  independent  class  of  people 
within  her  borders,  and  then,  and  not  until  then,  will  Georgia 
stand  at  the  head  of  the  class  of  States  as  she  should. 

"As  we  look  into  the  possibilities  of  this  great  State  and  per- 
ceive the  joy  and  happiness  that  will  be  brought  to  agricultural 
classes  who  have  so  long  and  patiently  suffered,  we  cannot  help 
but  become  enthused,  and  we  believe  that  all  others  who  will  care- 
fully study  the  question  will  agree  with  us." 

The  necessity  for  the  existence  of  business  departments  seem 
to  be  clear  to  most  of  the  membership,  as  it  is  only  through  the 
operation  of  these  that  the  Union  can  successfully  carry  on  its 
business.  These  departments  furnish  the  medium  by  which  busi- 
ness can  be  transacted  between  the  wholesalers  and  jobbers  and 
the  people.  The  operation  of  cooperative  concerns  puts  the  busi- 
ness agents  in  a  position  to  deal  with  other  interests  as  other 
wholesale  buyers  deals  with  them. 

The  buying  and  selling  of  things  the  farmer  produces  is  a  vital 
matter  with  him.  For  these  two  operations  constitute  the  main 
feature  of  a  farm,  and  is  the  chief  source  of  revenue  to  the  tillers 
of  the  soil.  If  they  buy  right  and  sell  right,  they  can  make  a 
profit,  and  that  will  insure  their  prosperity.  The  farmer  should 
not  strive  to  buy  below  the  price  of  production  or  sell  at  too  high 
a  figure.  He  should  be  willing  to  pay  a  reasonable  profit  on  other 
people's  products — only  a  reasonable  profit — and  then  demand  a 
reasonable  profit  on  his.  When  carried  out,  this  constitutes  all 
that  is  meant  by  buying'  and  selling,  and  comprises  the  business 
agency  department  in  its  entirety. 


156 


MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


STATK    ()I-'IMCIAI,S,     CIsOKCIA     lilNlSlnX. 

1.  John  L.  Lke,  Stato  rresidcnt.  ."5.  W.  M.  Coivi:!!.  State  Loclurer. 

2.  J.  T.  McDaxii:l,  Sf^'y-TroMsiiifr.  4.   William  liiiADiuuD,  Vlfe-1'resident. 

."..  T.  I..  Hawkins.  Stiilc  oi-KMiii/.cr. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNIOxN.  157 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


THE  NATIONAL  T'NION— FIRST  MEETING  IN  TEXARKANA— 
FIRST  OFFICIALS— SICCONl)  MEETING  AT  TEXAItKANA— 
MEETING  AT  LITTLE  ROCK— DELEGATES.  REPORTS, 
ETC.— MINIMl'M  TRICE  OF  COTTON— FORT  WORTH  CON- 
VENTION—LADY I  >ELEGATES. 

THE  NATIONAL  UNION. 

WHEN  several  .State  or^i^anizations  had  been  perfected,  dele- 
t:^ates  from  Texas,  Arkansas,  Oklahoma,  Alabama, 
Georgia,  Mississippi  and  Louisiana  met  in  Texarkana, 
December  5,  1905,  and  proceeded  to  organize  a  national  union  in 
accordance  with  the  provision  of  the  constitution  of  the  State  of 
Texas. 

This  convention  remained  in  session  three  days  and  adopted  a 
constitution  and  b\-laws.  Most  of  the  permanent  clauses  of  both 
are  practically  the  same  today  as  were  adopted  then.  The  work 
of  laying  out  and  planning  for  the  extension  of  the  Union  into 
every  agricultural  State  in  the  United  States  was  a  part  of  the 
work  of  this  convention. 

O.  P.  Pyle,  of  Mineola,  Texas,  was  elected  President ;  \\\  A. 
Morris,  of  Sulligent,  Alabama,  Vice-President;  R.  H.  McCulloch, 
of  Beebe,  Arkansas,  Secretary-Treasurer ;  L.  X.  Holmes,  of 
Bernice,  Louisiana.  Chaplain ;  Z.  R.  Bell,  of  CarroUton,  Georgia, 
Sergeant-at-Arms ;  John  Blackford,  of  Jonesboro,  Arkansas, 
Conductor,  and  H.  X.  Ray,  of  X^eosho,  Missouri,  Doorkeeper. 

The  First  National  Board  of  Directors  was  composed  of  C.  S. 
Barrett,  of  Georgia,  Chairman ;  W.  S.  Miller,  of  Texas ;  Camp- 
bell Russell,  of  Oklahoma;  L  N.  McColHster,  of  Louisiana;  E.  J. 
Cook,  of  Alabama,  and  J.  H.  Reynolds,  of  Arkansas. 

O.  P.  Pyle  served  a  part  of  his  term  as  Xational  President,  and 
resigned ;  the  National  Board  of  Directors  elected  R.  F.  Duck- 
worth, of  Georgia,  in  his  place. 

The  Board  of  Directors  was  made  up  of  six  instead  of  five,  as  it 
now  is.      The  convention  which  met  in  Texarkana  the  next  vear. 


158  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

1906,  reduced  the  number  to  five,  which  number  is  now  annually 
elected  by  the  convention.  The  offices  of  chaplain,  doorkeeper, 
conductor  and  sergeant-at-arms  are  appointive,  whereas  the  first 
convention  elected  them. 

THE  SECOND  TEXARKANA  CONVENTION. 

Delegates  met  In  Texarkana  in  September,  1906,  for  the  purpose 
of  fixing"  a  price  on  cotton  and  the  transaction  of  such  other  busi- 
ness of  importance  as  might  come  before  them. 

R.  F.  Duckworth,  of  Georgia,  who  was  serving  out  the  unex- 
pired term  of  O.  P.  Pyle,  of  Texas,  who  resigned,  declined  reelec- 
tion, and  C.  S.  Barrett,  of  Georgia,  was  elected  national  President ; 
J.  E.  Montgomery,  of  Tennessee,  was  elected  Vice-President ; 
R,  H,  McCulloch,  of  Beebe,  Arkansas,  was  reelected  Secretary- 
Treasurer.  A  board  of  five  directors  was  elected,  and  the  busi- 
ness of  the  convention  placed  in  their  hands  when  the  convention 
was  not  in  session.  W.  S.  Miller,  of  Texas ;  James  Butler,  of 
Kansas ;  Campbell  Russell,  of  Oklahoma ;  W.  A.  Morris,  of 
Alabama,  and  I.  N.  McCollister,  of  Louisiana,  were  named  in  this 
capacity. 

The  price"  of  cotton  was  fixed  at  eleven  cents. 

CONVENTION   AT   LITTLE  ROCK. 

The  next  convention  of  the  national  union  met  in  the  city  of 
Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  September,  1907, 
being  the  time  fixed  by  the  constitution  for  holding  the  national 
convention.  Ben.  L.  Griffin,  of  Conway,  Arkansas,  delivered  the 
address  of  welcome,  and  Homer  L.  Higgs,  of  Tennessee, 
responded. 

R.  H.  McCulloch,  National  Secretary,  called  the  roll,  and  the 
following  delegates  responded :  Arkansas — J.  B.  Lewis,  Ben  L. 
Griffin,  A.  R.  Jenkins,  A.  T-  Craig,  E.  Hall,  L  K.  Dempsev,  C.  A. 
Swift,  J.  T.  Wilson,  W.  F.  Tate,  S.  M.  Blalock,  W.  T.  Horn,  and, 
H.  B.  Lewis.  Alabama— J.  F.  Hill,  J.  O.  ColHns,  J.  H.  Wilson, 
Tom  Eiland,  Fred  Streit,  W.  F.  Duncan,  and  C.  O.  Beasley. 
California — J.  M.  Kneeland.  Florida — W.  M.  Carlisle.  Georgia 
—J.  L.  Lee,  J.  M.  Hart,  R.  F.  Duckworth,  and  J.  L.  Barron. 
Indiana — Thomas  J.  Singleton.  Illinois — I.  L.  Lyon.  Kansas — 
Paris  Henderson.  Kentucky — R.  L.  Barnett.  Louisiana — L.  N. 
Holmes,  W.  S.  Jones,  J.  P.  Kleinpeter,  and  Q.  A.  Hester.  Mis- 
souri—J.  G.  Weir.  Mississippi— W.  S.  Sheffield,  B.  B.  McCul- 
loch, S.  L.  Wilson,  W.  J.  Taylor,  J.  F.  Smith,  M.  A.  Brown,  W.  J. 


OF  THE  farmers'  union.  159 

Boyd,  T.  J.  Johnson,  J.  M.  Gregory,  and  H.  W.  Bradshaw.  North 
Carolina — S.  L.  Carter.  South  Carolina — J.  C.  Stribbling. 
Oklahoma — W.  E.  Baker,  A.  Frank  Ross,  W.  B.  Brown,  and  A.  A. 
Ellmore.  Tennessee — A.  A.  Webb,  T.  J.  Upton,  and  W.  L.  Per- 
kins. Texas— D.  J.  Neill,  J.  S.  Airhart,  J.  W.  Phillips,  O.  P. 
Pyle,  W.  P.  McNat,  S.  J.  Hampton,  S.  F.  McCormick,  T.  S. 
Miller,  J.  R.  Luce,  H.  E.  Webb,  W.  M.  Lipscomb,  B.  F.  Chapman, 
and  M.  C.  Fields.     Washington— N.  B.  Atkinson. 

New  Mexico  and  Oregon  were  entitled  to  one  vote  each,  but 
did  not  send  delegates,  hence  were  not  represented. 

Miss  Lutie  Gresham,  daughter  of  Hon.  Newt.  Gresham,  the 
founder  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  was  adopted  as  the  daughter  of 
the  National  L^nion.  The  convention  also  passed  a  resolution  to 
copyright  the  button  with  Newt.  Gresham's  picture  on  it  and  place 
the  sale  of  it  in  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Gresham.  The  royalty  from 
the  sale  of  this  button  or  official  badge  was  to  go  to  the  family  of 
Newt.  Gresham.  O.  P.  Pyle,  of  Texas,  spoke  at  some  length 
along  this  line. 

The  report  of  the  National  Board  of  Directors  will  give  some 
idea  of  the  progress  of  the  Union  during  the  past  year,  and  is 
inserted  here  for  that  purpose : 

"To  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Cooperative  Union  of  America, 
in  National  Convention  Assembled: 

"Brethren — Twelve  months  ago  at  Texarkana  we  were  elected 
to  assume  the  responsibilities  and  duties  of  Directors  of  the  Na- 
tional Union  of  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Cooperative  Union 
of  America.  Many  of  you  are  familiar  with  the  conditions  that 
existed  at  that  time.  The  union  had  a  debt  of  some  $3,000.00  for 
the  previous  year's  expenses  and  no  source  of  income  from  which 
to  pay  same  or  to  meet  current  expenses  until  after  the  ratification 
of  the  constitution  ninety  days  later.  Much  confusion  and  misun- 
derstanding, prevailed,  so  much  so  that  the  growth  and  usefulness 
of  the  organization  was  materially  retarded  for  a  time. 

"This,  we  are  glad  to  state,  was  caused  (principally)  by  nothing 
more  serious  than  intense  earnestness  and  zealous  watchfulness  on 
the  part  of  some  brethren,  of  the  rights  of  local  members,  coupled 
with  misunderstandings  and  mistaken  ideas  as  to  the  motives  and 
purposes  which  actuated  others.  This  for  a  time  threatened  to  be 
more  serious,  perhaps,  than  many  of  you  have  realized. 

"Much  of  the  time  of  this  board  and  a  large  per  cent  of  the 
expenses  incurred  bv  it  have  been  necessarily  spent  in  correcting 
these  misunderstandings  and  in  healing  the  wounds  and  closing  up 
the  breeches  whicli,  while  attributable  to  grievances  that  were 
far  more  imaginary  than  real,  were  none  the  less  dangerous  to  the 


160  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

permanency  and  power  of  our  organization  unless  effectually 
removed. 

"Two  principle  lines  of  work  have  engaged  our  attention.  First, 
was  to  stren.gthen  the  work  in  States  already  organized,  by  secur- 
ing harmonious  action  and  loyal  support  on  the  part  of  the  mem- 
bership of  such  States,  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Union 
as  a  whole.  Proud,  indeed,  are  we  to  be  able  to  state  to  you  that 
with  the  aid  and  assistance  of  thousands  of  energetic,  earnest, 
faithful,  self-sacrificing  Union  workers,  scattered  throughout  the 
different  States,  this  has  been  successfully  accomplished  in  every 
instance.  Proud,  indeed,  are  we  to  say  to  you  that  today  there  is 
not  a  cloud  visible  anvwhere  upon  the  Union  sky — no,  not  even  as 
large  as  a  man's  hand. 

"It  is  hard  to  refrain  from  mentioning,  personally,  some  of  those 
brethren  whose  assistance  appeared  most  valuable ;  but  they  only 
did  each  one  what  he  could — thousands  did  that ;  and  we  feel  sure 
that  those  whose  influence  was  most  eft'ective  in  bringing  about  a 
thorough  understanding  and  the  perfect  harmony  which  is  the 
result  of  a  correct  understanding,  feel  full}-  rewarded  for  all  their 
efforts  without  anv  eulogy  from  us. 

"In  Indian  and  Oklahoma  Territories  you  will  remember  that 
two  State  charters  had  been  issued.  This  occasioned  a  bitter 
fight,  which  was  carried  into  the  United  States  Court,  with  the 
result  that  both  charters  were  recognized  as  legal  and  declared  to 
have  concurrent  I'urisdiction  in  Indian  Territory.  Those  of  you 
who  were  at  our  last  National  meeting  will  remember  that  nearly  a 
dav  of  our  valuable  time  was  consumed  there  in  hearing  this  case, 
resulting  in  a  compromise  verdict  which  did  not  give  satisfaction 
to  either  side.  We  are  glad  to  report  to  you  that  those  two  State 
Unions  have  voted  without  a  dissenting  voice  to  voluntarily  sur- 
render their  charters,  and  that  they  have  organized  instead  the- 
State  Union  of  Oklahoma. 

"This,  we  can  truthfully  say,  has  been  done  without  having  any 
feeling  of  dissatisfaction  or  any  bitterness  or  strife  anywhere  vis- 
ible in  the  new  State.  We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  re]>ort  a  tendency, 
which  seems  almost  universal,  to  restrain  self  and  selfish  interests 
and  to  work  for  the  common  good  and  the  uplifting  of  humanity 
through  the  instrumentalitv  of  the  Farmers'  Union ;  and,  while 
we  would  not  dare  say  that  the  membership  today  are  actuated  by 
anv  loftier  aims  or  purer  motives  than  prompted  the  original 
founders  of  this  Union,  we  can  truthfully  say,  that  broader  views 
are  hcUl  and  more  svstcmatic  eff'orts  are  put  forth  than  have  at 
times  been  noticeable  within  our  ranks. 

".Along  our  second  line  of  work — inishing  the  organization  into 
new  territorv — we  have  probably  not  accomplished  what  some 
enthusiastic  brethren  have  expected,  or  what  we  ourselves  would 
be  glad  to  be  a1)lc  to  rci)ort.  We  can  but  feel,  however,  when  we 
look  back  of  the  vear's  work,  that  fair  progress  has  been  made. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  161 

First  three  months  no  funds,  constitution  beins;^  ratified ;  second 
three  months  not  enoui^h  funds  to  pay  last  year's  debts  and  meet 
current  expenses;  third  three  months,  just  p^etting  to  where  our 
Secretary-Treasurer  could  draw  a  full  breath  and  look  forward 
to  the  present  meeting  only  three  months  away. 

"When  this  condition  is  considered,  we  feel  that  the  organization 
of  four  new  State  Unions  and  the  starting  of  the  work  in  many 
other  States  is  a  creditable  report. 

"For  the  details  of  this  work,  we  refer  you  to  the  report  of  the 
Secretary-Treasurer,  as  also  for  the  financial  condition  of  the 
Union.  We  commend  our  faithful  Secretary-Treasurer  for  his 
efficient,  painstaking  work.  The  business  of  his  office  has  been 
managed  on  a  strictly  economical  basis,  but  not  at  the  expense  of 
correctness  and  efficiency.  His  work  has  been  entirely  satisfactory 
at  all  times. 

"Our  President  has,  at  our  solicitation  and  with  our  hearty 
approval,  spent  a  large  portion  of  his  time  in  active  field  work, 
which  has  been  productive  of  much  good  both  in  the  organized 
States  and  in  the  new  territory. 

"As  for  ourselves,  we  failed  to  perform  a  number  of  duties  which 
were  referred  to  us  by  the  last  national  meeting.  We  can  only 
plead  scarcity  of  funds  for  this  failure  to  comply  with  instructions. 

"True,  the  Secretary-Treasurer's  report,  which  you  have  had 
the  pleasure  of  hearing,  shows  some  funds  in  the  treasury  today, 
but  a  careful  examination  of  this  report  will  show  that  approx- 
imately one-half  of  the  total  receipts  for  the  year  has  been  within 
the  last  ninety  days — too  late  for  us  to  successfully  perform  the 
duties  above  referred  to. 

"We  have  no  bouquets  to  throw  at  ourselves,  nor  do  we  ask  any 
from  anyone  else.  Our  administration  of  the  afifairs  of  the  Union 
has  not  been  free  from  mistakes.  W^e  have  simply  done  the  best 
that  we  could,  acting  upon  such  information  as  we  were  able  to 
secure  upon  any  particular  occasion. 

"We  meet  you  at  the  close  of  our  term  of  office  with  clean  hands 
and  clear  consciences.  We  feel  iustified  in  saying  to  you  that  the 
Farmers*  Union  is  in  better  condition  today  than  at  any  time  since 
its  organization.  Its  membership  is  stronger  and  better  educated. 
They  understand  each  other  better,  are  more  determined  and  more 
loyal,  and  readv  if  need  be  to  make  greater  sacrifices  than  ever 
before.  To  be  able  to  truthfully  make  this  statement  is  reward 
enough  for  us  for  the  part  we  have  been  permitted  to  take  in  bring- 
ing about  such  a  condition. 

"We  are,  yours  for  humanity,  especially  the  American  farmer. 

"W.  A.  Morris,  Chairman." 

The  committee  on  minimum  price  of  cotton  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing report : 
11 


162  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

"To  the  President  and  Members  of  the  National  Union: 

"We,  the  undersigned  committee  on  minimum  price  for  short 
staple  cotton,  beg  leave  to  submit  this,  our  report : 

"After  a  thorough  investigation  of  the  condition  in  each  cotton 
State,  we  recommend  the  following  as  a  minimum  and  scale  of 
prices  for  September  and  each  month  thereafter,  at  interior  points : 
"The  minimum  price  to  be  15  cents  per  pound,  basis  midling, 
and  one-fourth  cent  additional  per  pound  each  month  to  cover 
storage  interest,  etc. 

"Respectfully  submitted, 

"D.  J.  Neill,  Chairman. 
"A.  A.  Webb,  Secretary." 

Secretary  McCulloch's  report  was  a  fine  one,  and  showed  the 
growth  of  the  Union  during  the  year  past : 

"Since  my  last  annual  report  I  have  issued  charters  as  follows : 
To  the  State  Unions  of  Missouri,  Illinois,  Kansas  and  Florida. 

"On  the  20th  day  of  August  the  brethren  of  the  Indiahoma  and 
Indian  Territory  State  Unions  met  in  the  city  of  Shawnee,  Okla- 
homa, and  surrendered  their  respective  charters  and  proceeded  to 
and  did  organize  the  said  territories  into  one  State  Union  to  be 
known  as  the  Oklahoma  State  Union.  The  charter  has  been 
issued  and  is  now  in  the  hands  of  Brother  J.  A.  West,  President 
of  the  Oklahoma  State  Union. 

"I  have  chartered  local  Unions  as  follows :  Colorado,  7 ;  Flor- 
ida, 203;  Illinois,  14Q;  Indiana,  34;  Kentucky,  yy;  Nebraska,  3; 
New  Mexico,  20;  North  Carolina,  42;  Oregon,  4;  Virginia,  6; 
Washington,  26 ;   Californai,  3  ;  Kansas,  100.     Total,  736. 

"We  now  have  thirteen  chartered  State  Unions,  with  17,938 
chartered  locals,  and  ten  other  States  with  736  chartered  locals — 
a  total  membership  of  935,837  active  union  workers,  an  increase 
during  the  year  of  four  State  Unions,  673  local  Unions,  and 
339,250  members." 

The  secretary's  books  were  found  to  be  in  excellent  shape,  with 
a  balance  to  the  credit  of  the  national  union. 

The  election  of  officers  for  the  next  ensuing  year  was  the  order 
of  business,  and  the  following  were  elected  for  the  next  year : 

President — C.  S.  Barrett,  Atwater,  Georgia. 

Vice-President — J.  E.  Montgomery,  Gleason,  Tennessee. 

Secretary-Treasurer — R.  H.  McCulloch,  Beebe,  Arkansas. 

National  Board  of  Directors — W.  A.  Morris,  Sulligent,  Ala- 
bama ;  W.  S.  Miller,  Lake  Creek,  Texas ;  I.  N.  McColHster,  Many, 
Louisiana  ;  S.  L.  Wilson,  Van  Vleet,  Mississippi ;  T.  M.  Jeffords, 
Elgin,  Oklahoma. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  163 

Committees  were  appointed  to  report  on  live  stock,  long  staple 
cotton,  grain  and  other  products  of  the  farm. 

J.  M.  Kneeland,  of  California,  addressed  the  convention  on  the 
difficulties  with  which  the  people  of  California  were  confronted. 

The  committee  on  co-operative  manufacturing  reported  as 
follows : 

"To  the  President  and  Members  of  the  National  Union: 

"We,  your  committee  on  co-operative  manufacturing,  beg  leave 
to  submit  the  following  report: 

"Whereas,  through  the  evolution  of  productive  industry,  the 
simple  tools  of  production  have  been  transferred  into  powerful 
machines  requiring  large  expenditures  of  capital  and  association 
of  labor,  thus  becoming,  as  now  owned  and  controlled  by  incorpo- 
rated monopoly,  a  threatening  menace  to  the  producers  of  wealth, 
and, 

"Whereas,  the  Farmers'  Union  being  based  upon  the  principles 
of  co-operation,  the  logical  expression  of  the  purposes  of  the 
Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America  is  the 
progressive  acquisition  of  the  forces  of  production  and  distribu- 
tion as  will  most  effectively  insure  the  benefits  to  the  real  producers 
of  wealth — the  farmers — and, 

"Whereas,  the  becfinning  and  limits  of  such  industrial  cn-opera- 
tion  should  be  regulated  by  well-defined  plans  under  the  direction 
of  an  industrial  departn^cnt ;   therefore, 

"We  heartily  recommend  the  policy  of  the  Unions  throughout 
the  South  in  the  building  of  co-operative  gins,  mills,  warehouses, 
and  canning  factories,  and  would  urge  a  more  progressive  work 
along  these  lines. 

"In  the  matter  of  factories  we  can  do  no  better  at  this  time  than 
to  highly  commend  the  plan  of  the  co-operative  woolen  mills  of 
Albuquerque,  N.  M.,  as  the  basis  of  true  co-operation. 

"We  further  believe  that  the  proper  thing  to  be  done  at  this 
meeting  is  the  creation  of  an  industrial  department,  with  full 
power  to  prepare  plans  to  push  the  work  of  co-operative  industry 
among  farmers." 

"Respectfully  submitted, 

"S.  J.  Hampton, 
"J.  M.  Kneeland, 
"J.  K.  Dempsay, 
"S.  L.  Wilson, 

"Committee." 

NATIONAL  MEETING  AT  FORT  WORTH,  TEXAS. 

On  the  first  Tuesday  in  September,  1908,  the  Fourth  National 
Convention  of  the  Farmers'  Union  met  in  Fort  Worth.  Texas. 


164r  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

Mayor  W.  D.  Harris,  of  Fort  Worth,  made  the  address  of  wel- 
come, and  Hon.  D.  J.  Xeill,  President  of  the  Farmers'  Union  of 
Texas,  welcomed  the  delegates  in  behalf  of  the  Union  of  the  State. 

The  committee  on  credentials  reported  the  States  and  number  of 
delegates  as  follows : 

"Alabama — seven  votes :  Mrs.  O.  P.  Ford,  J.  J.  Robinson,  Jr., 
J.  H.  Wilson,  J.  M.  Pierson,  L.  O.  Cox,  O.  P.  Ford,  B.  L.  Hill. 

"Arkansas — ten  votes :  John  Bowers,  M.  F.  Dickinson,  J.  A. 
Blackford,  G.  A.  Billingsly,  W.  F.  Tate,  Miss  Meah  M.  Merritt, 
W.  I.  Beck,  A.  A.  Scott,  W.  C.  Henderson. 

"California — one  vote :  J.  M.  Kneeland. 

"Colorado — one  vote:   M.  N.  Johnson. 

"Florida — one  vote  :   M.  S.  Knight. 

"Georgia — seven  votes :  T.  L.  Hawkins,  Miss  Jimmie  Doster, 
M.  L.  Day,  B.  J.  Wooten,  J.  L  Fnllwood,  W.  L.  Moore,  Frank 
Smith. 

"Illinois — one  vote  :   W.  D.  Crews. 

"Indiana — one  vote:   ^^^  W.  Myers. 

"Kansas — one  vote:  E.  H,  Hewins. 

"Kentucky — one  vote :   R.  L.  Barnett. 

"Louisiana — two  votes  :  J.  W.  Boyett,  Jr.,  J.  F.  Arceneaux. 

"Mississippi — nine  votes :  G.  R.  Hightower,  J.  W.  Boatright, 
J.  M.  Bass,  H.  E.  Blakeslee,  R.  A.  N.  W^ilson,  G.  W.  Russell,  Mrs. 
G.  W.  Russell,  T,  J.  Johnson,  S.  A.  Shoemake. 

"Missouri — two  votes :  T.  J.  Douglas,  J.  M.  Bowers. 

"North  Carolina — two  votes :   H.  O.  Alexander,  J.  Z.  Green. 

"Oregon — one  vote :  F.  A.  Sikes. 

"Oklahoma — seven  votes :  J.  A.  West,  J.  K.  Armstrong,  E.  M. 
Smoot,  William  Garrison,  J.  S.  IMurrav,  T.  Y.  Calahan,  G.  W. 
York. 

"South  Carolina — three  votes:  T.  C.  Willoughby,  Joseph  L. 
Keitt,  B.  Harris. 

"Tennessee — four  votes :  T.  J.  Brooks,  J.  T.  Upton,  Miss  Cor- 
delia May  Derryberry,  W.  G.  Perkins. 

"Texas — six  votes :  E.  A.  Calvin,  Lee  Satterwhite,  D.  J.  Neill, 
W.  T.  Loudermilk,  J.  C.  Albritton,  T.  B.  Taylor. 

"Washington — one  vote  :   H.  D.  G.  Cox. 

"We,  your  committee,  make  the  following  recommendations : 

"First.  That  the  nine  delegates  from  Arkansas  be  allowed  to 
cast  the  ten  votes  to  which  their  State  is  entitled  until  the  arrival  of 
one  of  the  following  brethren  :  J.  T.  M.  Holt  or  C.  A.  Swift, 
regularly  elected  alternates. 

".Second.      That  the  six  delegates  from  Oklahoma  be  allowed 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  165 

to  cast  the  seven  votes  to  which  their  State  is  entitled  until  the 

arrival  of  Brother  G.  W.  York. 

"Respectfully  submitted, 

"T.  B.  Taylor,  Chairman, 
"J.   M.  Bowers^  Secretary, 
"W.  A.  Morris, 
"M.  F.  Dickinson, 
"J.  F.  Arceneaux, 
"W.  F.  Tate/' 

The  following  ladies  were  delegates  or  visitors,  the  first  eleven 
being  the  guests  of  the  Union  Nezvs  of  Georgia : 

Miss  Georgia  Smith,  Bremen;  Miss  Myrtice  Brown,  Canon; 
Mrs.  J.  F.  Lupo,  Conyers  ;  Miss  Mattie  S.  Rogers.  Quitman ;  Miss 
Ellye  Kisor,  Doyle ;  Miss  Gussie  Williams,  Tennille ;  Miss  Julia 
Riley,  Milledgeville ;  Miss  Maud  M.  Butler,  Lilly;  Miss  Mattie 
Martin,  Statesboro;  Miss  Annie  Clyde  Smith,  Bronwood :  Miss 
Clara  Whitehead,  Buford. 

Mrs.  R.  F.  Duckworth,  Georgia ;  Mrs.  R.  L.  Barnett,  Kentucky ; 
Mrs.  W.  S.  Miller,  Texas;  Mrs.  J.  M.  Rodisill,  Oklahoma;  Airs. 
Ben  L.  Griffin,  Arkansas ;   Mrs.  Lee  Sattcrwhite,  Texas. 

Committees  as  follows  were  appointed : 

Committee  on  Constitution  and  By-Lazvs — T.  J.  Brooks,  Ten- 
nessee ;  J.  Z.  Green,  North  Carolina ;  T.  J.  Douglass,  iNIissouri ; 
R.  A.  N.  Wilson,  Mississippi. 

Committee  on  Gin  Compression — J.  \Y.  Boatwright,  Mississippi ; 
W.  S.  Miller,  Texas ;  G.  A.  Billingsly,  Arkansas. 

Committee  on  Good  of  the  Order — O.  P.  Ford,  Alabama ;  J.  M. 
Bass,  Mississippi ;    1.  N.  McCollister,  Louisiana. 

Committee  on  Marketing  Tobacco — R.  L.  Barnett,  Kentucky ; 
H.  O.  Alexander,  North  Carolina;  W.  G.  Perkins,  Tennessee. 

Committee  on  Miuimnm  Price  for  Short  Staple  Cotton — D.  J. 
Neill,  Texas;  J.  W.  Boyett,  Louisiana;  T.  L.  Hawkins,  Georgia; 
J.  L.  Keitt,  South  Carolina ;  J-  E.  Montgomery,  Tennessee :  J.  J- 
Robinson,  Alabama ;  G.  R.  Hightower,  Mississippi ;  W.  F.  Tate. 
Arkansas ;  H.  O.  Alexander,  North  Carolina ;  Lee  Satterwhite. 
Texas  ;  J.  Y.  Callahan,  Oklahon^a. 

Committee  on  Legislation — Lee  Satterwhite,  Texas;  T.  ]M. 
Jeffords,  Oklahoma ;  T.  L.  Hawkins,  Georgia :  J.  W.  Boyett, 
Louisiana. 

Committee  on  Exchanges  and  Bucket  Shops — D.  J.  Ncill. 
Texas;  J.  A.  West,  Oklahoma;  T.  J.  Brooks,  Tennessee;  J.  \\'. 
Boyett,  Louisiana :  W.  F.  Tate,  Arkansas. 

Committee  on  Warehouses — E.  A.  Calvin,  Texas  :  J.  H.  Wilson, 


166 


MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


STATE    EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE,    GEORGIA     DIVISION. 
1.  .1.  II.  IIoYLK,  Chairman. 

2.  W.  V.  Martin.  4.  J.  D.  Anderson. 

3.  S.  J.  SMiTir.  5.   W.  T.  HooTTE. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  167 

Alabama;  B.  Harris,  South  Carolina;  A.  A.  Scott,  Arkansas; 
J.  A.  West,  Oklahoma. 

Committee  on  Minutnun  Price  for  Long  Staple  Cotton — M.  S. 
Knight,  Florida ;  M.  L.  Day,  Georgia ;  B.  Harris,  South  Carolina. 

Committee  on  Grain  Elevators — H.  D.  G.  Cox,  Washington ; 
W.  W.  Myers,  Indiana;  W.  D,  Crews,  Illinois;  J.  M.  Bovvers, 
Missouri;  F.  A.  Sikes,  Oregon;  J.  Y.  Callahan,  Oklahoma. 

Committee  on  Co-operative  Fire  Insurance — T.  J.  Douglass, 
Missouri;  J.  M.  Kneeland,  California;  J.  Z.  Green,  North  Caro- 
lina. 

Committee  on  Truck  and  Frnit  Growing — G.  W.  Russell,  Mis- 
sissippi ;   W.  I.  Beck,  Arkansas ;  J.  M.  Bowers,  Missouri, 

Committee  on  Marketing  Cotton — G.  R.  Hightower,  Missis- 
sippi ;  W.  T.  Loudermilk,  Texas ;  J.  A.  West,  Oklahoma ;  J.  M. 
Pearson,  Alabama  ;  B.  J.  Wooten,  Georgia ;  A.  A.  Scott,  Arkansas  ; 
I.  N.  McCollister,  Louisiana ;  J.  T,  Upton,  Tennessee ;  H.  Q. 
Alexander,  North  Carolina ;   B.  Harris,  South  Carolina. 

Committee  on  Cotton  Schools — J.  C.  Albritton,  Texas;  W.  F. 
Tate,  Arkansas ;  J.  S.  Murray,  Oklahoma ;  W.  L.  Moore,  Georgia. 

Committee  on  Education — Miss  Meah  M.  Merritt,  Arkansas; 
Miss  Jimmie  Doster,  Georgia;  Miss  Cordelia  May  Derryberry, 
Tennessee ;  Mrs.  O.  P.  Ford,  Alabama ;  Mrs.  G.  W.  Russell,  Mis- 
sissippi ;  J.  F.  Arceneaux,  Louisiana ;  T.  J.  Brooks,  Tennessee. 

Committee  on  Co-operation — H.  E.  Blakeslee,  Mississippi ;  B.  L. 
Hill,  Alabama;  W.  C.  Henderson,  Arkansas. 

Press  Committee — J.  T.  Upton,  Tennessee;  M.  N.  Johnson, 
Colorado ;  W.  F.  Tate,  Arkansas. 

Committee  on  Resolutions — J.  K.  Armstrong,  Oklahoma ;  W.  I. 
Beck,  Arkansas;  J.  Z.  Green,  North  Carolina;  J.  I.  Fullwood, 
Georgia ;   H.  E.  Blakeslee,  Mississippi. 

Committee  on  Marketing  and  Minimum  Price  for  Grain — J.  Y. 
Callahan,  Oklahoma ;  T.  J.  Douglass,  Missouri ;  H.  D.  G.  Cox, 
Washington ;  W.  D.  Crews,  Illinois ;  W.  W.  Myers,  Indiana ; 
E.  H.  Hewins,  Kansas ;  William  Garrison,  Oklahoma ;  F.  A. 
Sikes,  Oregon. 

Committee  on  Marketing  Broom  Corn — E.  M.  Smoot,  Okla- 
homa ;  W.  D.  Crews,  Illinois. 

Committee  on  Wrapping  Cotton — S.  A.  Shoemake,  Mississippi; 
J.  M.  Bowers,  Arkansas ;  L.  O.  Cox,  Alabama. 

Adjourned  until  lo  :oo  o'clock  next  morning. 

The  report  of  National  Secretary  R.  H.  McCulloch,  a  part  of^ 
which  is  appended  here,  revealed  unprecedented  growth  along  all 
lines.     The  report  in  part  says : 


168  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

"During  the  past  year  I  have  issued  charters  to  the  State  Unions 
of  North  Carolina,  Colorado,  Washington  (including  the  Pan- 
handle counties  of  Idaho),  and  Kentucky. 

"Local  Unions  have  been  chartered  in  unorganized  territory  as 
follows  :  Colorado,  4 ;  Indiana,  74 ;  Kentucky,  226 ;  California,  6 ; 
North  Carolina,  164;  New  Alexico,  18;  Oregon,  6;  Washington, 
63;   Iowa,  I. 

"The  total  number  of  chartered  locals  in  the  unorganized  terri- 
tory is  as  follows  :  Indiana,  107 ;  California,  9 ;  New  Mexico,  41  ; 
Oregon,  10;   Iowa,  i  ;.  Virginia,  3. 

ORGANIZING    WORK. 

"Especial  mention  should  be  made  of  our  body  of  organizers 
who  have  labored  so  faithfully  in  spreading  the  cause  of  unionism, 
the  direct  result  of  which  has  been  the  addition  of  the  four  State 
Unions  mentioned  above  to  the  sisterhood  of  organized  States. 
Especially  do  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  work  being 
accomplished  by  our  brother  farmers  of  the  great  Northwest  in 
that  part  known  as  the  Inland  Empire'  country.  Though  far 
removed  from  the  centers  of  unionism  and  separated  from  us  by 
vast  mountain  barriers,  they  have  caught  the  spirit  of  fraternalism 
and  have  successfully  launched  the  State  Union  of  Washington 
upon  its  mission,  and  are  now  tiirnino-  their  attention  to  the  organ- 
ization of  its  sister  State,  Oregon,  with  every  prospect  of  its  early 
accomplishment." 

Miss  Louise  Wliatley,  of  Louisiana,  and  Miss  Lillian  Wilson, 
of  Kentucky,  addressed  the  convention.  The  former  spoke  upon 
"Southern  Womanhood,"  and  the  latter  upon  the  growth  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  in  Kentucky.  Mrs.  G.  W.  Russell,  of  Mississippi, 
Miss  Nellie  Horton,  of  Texas,  and  Miss  Cordelia  May  Derryberry, 
of  Tennessee,  each  made  splendid  addresses  during  the  session  of 
the  convention. 

The  Fort  Worth  Convention  considered  many  questions  of  im- 
portance. A  minimum  price  for  grain,  the  subject  of  co-operation, 
a  minimum  price  for  Sea  Island  cotton,  grain  elevators,  legisla- 
tion, gin  compression  of  cotton,  the  sale  of  tobacco,  education, 
cotton  schools,  the  minimum  price  for  short  staple  cotton,  a  co- 
operative fire  insurance  company,  broom  corn,  the  marketing  of 
cotton,  marketing  of  truck,  and  fruit  growing  were  some  of  the 
questions  considered  by  this  convention. 

It  was  the  concensus  of  opinion  that  the  marketing  of  farm 
products  and  the  minimum  price  thereof  should  be  given  the  right 
of  way  over  all  other  business  at  the  convention. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  169 

So  strongly  did  this  opinion  prevail  that  a  comn";ittee  recom- 
mended, ''that  the  marketing'  of  farm  products  be  at  all  times 
given  precedence  until  all  reports  of  such  committees  are  disposed 
of."  This  report  was  adopted  and  became  a  part  of  the  policy  of 
the  convention. 

Officers  as  follows  were  elected :  C.  S.  Barrett  of  Georgia. 
President;  J.  E.  Montgomery  of  Tennessee,  Vice  President;  R.  H. 
McCulloch  of  Arkansas,  Secretary-Treasurer.  The  National 
Board  of  Directors  is  composed  of  W.  A,  Morris,  Alabama;  T.  M. 
Jeffords,  Oklahoma;  S.  L.  Wilson,  Mississippi;  I.  N.  McCollister, 
Louisiana,  and  W.  T.  Loudermilk  of  Texas. 


170  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


CHAPTER  XV. 


NATIONAL  RALLIES— ADDRESS  BY  THE  HON.  THOMAS  E.  WAT- 
SON, ATLANTA— FEATURES  OF  THE  MEETING— TELE- 
GRAM SENT  TO  PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT.  MEETING  IN 
MEMPHIS  LARGEST  GATHERING  OF  THE  KIND.  NEW 
ORLEANS  RALLY  ADDRESSED  BY  WATSON,  LADSON  AND 
GOV.  SANDERS— TOPEK A  BUSINESS  CONGRESS— CONVEN- 
TION OF  SPINNERS  AND  GROWERS— SOME  UNWRITTEN 
HISTORY  OF  THE  MEETING. 

RALLIES    OF   THE    NATIONAL    UNION    HELD   AT    ATLANTA,    MEMPHIS 
AND    NEW    ORLEANS — BUSINESS    CONGRESS    AT   TOPEKA    AND   THE 
spinners'  CONVENTION  IN  ATLANTA. 

ON  January  22,  23  and  24,   1907,  there  met  in  the  city  of 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  delegates  and  members  from  every  State 
where  the  Union  had  been  planted,  for  the  purpose  of 
engaging  in  the  first  real  grand  national  rally. 

National  Secretary  R.  H.  McCulloch  says  of  the  meeting : 

"Pursuant  to  a  call  by  the  National  President,  Charles  S.  Bar- 
rett, a  large  and  representative  delegation  from  all  the  organized 
states  and  territories,  and  much  of  the  unorganized  field,  was 
present  at  the  State  Capitol  of  Georgia  promptly  at  10  o'clock, 
January  22,  1907.  Never  in  the  history  of  the  organization  was 
ever  such  a  gathering  of  actual  farmers  and  especially  under  such 
a  short  notice.  Before  convening  quite  a  number  gathered  in 
front  of  the  Piedmont  Hotel  and  formed  a  line  of  march  to  the 
Capitol  in  Atlanta,  led  by  the  National  Officials,  and  as  they 
marched  the  line  was  lengthened  by  others  who  had  taken  upon 
themselves  the  solemn  obligations  of  a  Farmers'  Union  ritual.  It 
was  the  attraction  of  many  a  day  in  Atlanta  to  see  that  great  army 
of  farmers  marching  through  the  streets  to  the  appointed  place 
of  meeting.  The  evening  papers  were  full  of  most  favorable  com- 
ments and  we  are  glad  to  say  that  the  same  spirit  lasted  through- 
out the  meeting,  for  the  Atlanta  press  was  more  than  anxious  to 
catch  every  action  of  the  meeting.  President  Barrett  delivered 
his  opening  address  in  which  he  explained  the  call.    After  the  de- 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  171 

votional  exercises  by  National  Chaplain  L.  N.  Holmes  of  Louis- 
iana, R.  H.  McCulloLigh  of  Arkansas  was  unanimously  elected 
secretary  of  the  meeting.  Brother  McCullough  appointed  T.  J. 
Brooks  and  Homer  L.  Higgs  of  Tennessee  as  assistant  secretaries. 

Immediately  upon  the  assembling  of  the  delegates  in  executive 
session  in  the  hall  of  representatives  of  the  State  Capitol,  commit- 
tees as  follows  were  appointed  : 

Resolutions — James  Butler,  Kansas ;  B.  F.  Earle,  South 
Carolina;  D.  J.  Neill,  Texas;  J.  M.  Bass,  Mississippi;  T.  J. 
Brooks,  Tennessee ;  J.  D.  Cathey,  Florida. 

Committee  on  Fertilisers — G.  T.  McElderry,  Alabama ;  O.  P. 
Ford.  Georgia;  H.  F.  Marr,  Texas;  J.  G.  Walton,  Georgia;  J.  G. 
Eubanks.  Georgia ;  P.  F.  Parker,  J.  W.  Boyett,  Jr.,  Louisiana. 

Committee  to  E'scort  Hon.  Thos.  E.  Watson  to  Auditorium — 
Ben  L.  Griffin,  Arkansas ;  P.  F.  Parker,  Alabama ;  E.  A.  Calvin, 
Texas. 

Committee  to  Escort  Col.  John  Temple  Graves  to  Auditorium — 
Homer  L.  Higgs,  Tennessee ;  James  Butler,  Kansas ;  O.  P.  Good- 
win, South  Carolina. 

Press  Committee — G,  W.  Russell,  Mississippi;  Wm.  Eiland, 
Alabama ;  R.  F.  Duckworth,  Georgia. 

Farmers'  Union  Newspapers — D.  J.  Neill,  Texas ;  J.  B.  Lewis, 
Arkansas ;  J,  L.  Barron,  Georgia ;  T.  J.  Brooks,  Tennessee ;  B.  F. 
Earle,  South  Carolina. 

Co-Operation — T.  E.  Pinegar,  Alabama;  J.  G.  Eubanks, 
Georgia;  N.  W.  HalHday,  Georgia;  W.  L.  Anderson,  South 
Carolina ;  J.  L.  Lee,  Georgia. 

Education — ^J.  T.  Upton,  Tennessee;  G.  W.  Russell,  Missis- 
sippi ;  Thos.  Hendricks,  Georgia ;  T.  T.  Wakefield,  South  Caro- 
lina ;  G.  M.  Davis,  Georgia. 

Legislation — Homer  L.  Higgs,  Tennessee ;  J.  B.  Lewis,  Arkan- 
sas; R.  F.  Duckworth,  Georgia;  G.  T.  McElderry,  Alabama;  I^. 
N.  Holmes,  Louisiana. 

Manufacturing — O.  P.  Goodwin,  South  Carolina ;  P.  F.  Parker, 
Alabama;  B.  F.  Earle,  South  Carolina;  G.  T.  McElderry,  Ala- 
bama ;  S.  J.  Smith,  Georgia. 

Good  of  the  Order — J.  L.  English,  Georgia ;  Dr.  Duncan,  Ala- 
bama; J.  D.  Anderson,  Georgia;  Homer  L.  Higgs,  Tennessee. 

Elevators — H.  M.  Ray,  Missouri;  J.  S.  Murray,  Indian  Ter- 
ritory ;  H.  Beecher  Lewis,  Arkansas ;  R.  L.  Barnett,  Kentucky. 

Warehouses — E.  A.  Calvin,  Texas ;  Dr.  Duncan,  Alabama ;  O. 
P.  Goodwin,  South  Carolina;  S.  J.  Smith,  Georgia;  J.  A.  West. 
Oklahoma. 

Immigration — Ben  L.  Griffin,  Arkansas ;  J.  M.  Bass,  Missis- 


172  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

sippi ;  J.  E.  Montgomery,  Tennessee ;  Wm.  Eiland,  Alabama ;  W. 
A.  Morris,  Alabama. 

Agricultural  Schools — W.  W.  Wilson,  Georgia ;  Ben  L.  Griffin, 
Arkansas ;  R.  F.  Duckworth,  Georgia ;  E.  J.  Cook,  Alabama. 

IVrapping  Cotton — Thomas  Hendricks,  Georgia;  Dr.  Duncan, 
Alabama;  S.  J.  Smith,  Georgia;  Mr.  Sanders,  Alabama;  W.  G. 
Watford,  South  Carolina. 

Hon.  Thomas  E.  Watson,  of  Thomson,  Georgia,  in  his  usually 
strong  and  vigorous  style,  addressed  the  members,  delegates  and 
visitors  at  the  Broughton  Tabernacle.  Hon.  John  Temple  Graves, 
then  editor  of  the  Atlanta  Georgian,  in  well-rounded  phrases,  in- 
troduced the  orator  of  the  occasion.  Before  the  speakers  arrived 
the  vast  congregation  of  fully  five  thousand  people  occupied  the 
time  in  singing  old  familiar  hymns,  such  as  "How  Firm  a  Foun- 
dation," and  "Old  Time  Religion."  The  Atlanta  papers  remarked 
upon  this  in  their  reports  of  the  meeting. 

FEATURES  OF  THE  MEETING. 

This  meeting,  in  extent  and  scope,  partook  of  the  nature  of  a 
national  convention.  Delegates  from  every  State  where  the  Union 
existed  were  in  attendance.  On  the  morning  of  the  first  session  of 
the  convention,  or  'rally,  several  hundred  members  of  the  Union 
assembled  in  the  square  in  front  of  the  postoffice,  at  the  Grady 
monument,  and,  headed  by  a  platoon  of  mounted  policemen, 
paraded  through  the  streets  of  the  city.  The  marchers  moved 
down  Marietta  to  Broad,  and  up  Broad  to  Alabama,  then  down 
Alabama  to  Whitehall  and  along  Whitehall  to  Hunter  and  out 
Hunter  to  the  .State  Capitol,  where  the  convention  was  called  to 
order  in  executive  session.  Some  of  the  delegates  in  the  line  of 
march  had  provided  themselves  with  cow  bells  and  tin  horns,  which 
they  jubilantly  rang  and  blew. 

The  earlier  part  of  the  morning  session  of  the  convention  was 
devoted  to  talks  on  cotton.  The  warehouse  system,  which  was 
attracting  considerable  attention  in  Union  circles,  was  discussed 
at  length,  and  some  details  as  to  plans  and  management  were 
worked  out.  At  this  session  it  was  declared  that  the  Union  stood 
for  the  "Three  P's — Progress,  Prosperity  and  Power." 

An  action  of  no  small  consequence  taken  by  this  convention,  was 
the  one  upon  the  eight-hour  law.  A  resolution  was  passed  calling 
upon  the  entire  membership  to  bring  the  matter  before  their  sev- 
eral locals  and  ask  each  member  in  as  far  as  possible  to  see  the 
members  of  the  legislature  and  ask  them  to  vote  for  the  eight-hour 
law.    Another  matter  of  importance  was  the  resolution  asking  for 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  173 

the  passage  and  strict  enforcement  of  laws  against  the  employ- 
ment of  children  in  factories.  Uniform  co-operative  corporation 
laws  in  the  various  States  was  favored. 

The  delet^ates  visited  the  Georgia  School  of  Technology  and 
were  much  pleased  by  what  they  saw.  Col.  John  Martin,  of  Dal- 
las, Texas,  a  cotton  expert,  addressed  the  convention  on  practical 
conditions  of  marketing  the  crops.  He  expressed  a  belief  that 
in  the  future  the  membership  of  the  Farmers'  Union  would  con- 
trol the  price  of  cotton. 

The  following  telegram  was  ordered  by  the  convention  to  be 
sent  to  President  Roosevelt : 

"Atlanta,  Ga.^  January  22. 
"Hon.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  President,  Washington,  D.  C: 

"As  the  National  President  of  the  Farmers'  Union  of  America, 
composed  of  1,000,000  farmers  of  the  South  and  West,  which  are 
in  national  meeting  in  Atlanta,  I  beg  to  notify  you  the  conven- 
tion did  tonight,  by  a  rising  vote,  indorse  your  action  in  dis- 
charging the  soldiers  implicated  in  the  Brownsville  riot.  This 
action  on  the  part  of  3,000  delegates  was  suggested  by  Hon. 
Thomas  Watson,  while  in  the  course  of  a  speech  in  which  he  re- 
ferred to  your  action.  "C.  S.  Barrett.^' 

The  committee  on  the  revision  of  the  ritual  remained  in  the  city 
after  the  adjournment  of  the  convention,  for  the  purpose  of  per- 
fecting the  ritual. 

JANL'ARV  MEETING  AT  MEMPHIS,  TENNESSEE,   I907. 

On  January  7,  1907,  there  met  in  the  city  of  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee, a  convention  of  the  Farmers'  Union  for  the  purpose  of 
devising  ways  and  means  by  which  the  cotton  then  held  by  the 
membership  of  the  Union  might  be  sold  advantageously. 

The  Memphis  meeting  was  among  the  best  attended  of  all  the 
national  rallies  held  by  the  Farmers'  Union.  This  meeting,  in 
scope  of  work,  was  limited  in  its  operations  to  the  cotton-growing 
sections  of  the  United  States,  but  delegates  from  the  .State  of 
Illinois  attended,  as  did  some  from  Missouri.  Delegates  from 
every  cotton-growing  State  were  present  and  participated  in  the 
deliberations  of  the  body.  Many  of  the  largest  planters  of  the 
South  and  Southwest  attended  and  lent  their  aid  in  devising 
plans  by  which  the  membership  of  the  I^nion  was  to  be  aided. 

The  Memphis  meeting  will  go  down  in  history  as  one  of  tJie 
largest  and  most  enthusiastic  ever  held  in  that  citv.      For  fullv 


174  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

two  days  before  the  meeting  of  the  convention  every  train  brought 
delegates,  and  by  the  time  the  meeting  was  opened  for  business 
the  city  was  filled  with  men  interested  in  the  ultimate  action  of 
the  convention  upon  the  question  of  cotton.  The  press  dispatches 
sent  out  from  Memphis  on  the  morning  of  the  opening  of  the 
convention  convey  some  idea  of  the  cxtensiveness  of  the  meeting, 
and  the  influence  of  the  Farmers'  Unions  upon  current  events. 
The  quotation  from  a  press  dispatch  is  here  cited  as  corroborating 
this  statement.    The  press  dispatch  is  as  follows : 

"The  rapid  growth  of  the  Union  since  its  organization,  five 
years  ago,  has  attracted  attention  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and 
the  convention  now  in  session  will  discuss  matters  of  vital  interest 
to  farmers  in  all  sections." 

It  was  evident  from  the  very  start  that  the  ^lemphis  meeting 
was  held  for  the  purpose  of  transacting  business ;  business  even 
pervaded  the  air,  and  those  mixing  and  mingling  with  the  delega- 
tion could  not  mistake  the  real  purpose  for  which  the  meeting  was 
called — the  transaction  of  business. 

The  meeting  planned  for  the  reduction  of  the  cotton  acreage 
and  the  holding  of  whatever  cotton  was  then  on  hand.  This  con- 
vention remained  in  session  for  three  days,  and  the  work  it  out- 
lined and  the  plans  it  matured  were  not  without  very  beneficial 
influence  upon  the  price  of  cotton.  Immediately  after  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  convention  cotton  took  an  upward  tendency,  with  the 
result  that  many  realized  more  for  their  cotton  than  they  would 
have  otherwise  done. 

THE  NEW  ORLEANS  RALLY,    I908. 

Owing  to  the  depressed  price  of  cotton,  ranging  through  the 
earlier  months  of  the  1908  and  1909  cotton  season,  the  member- 
ship of  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  others  who,  like  them,  were  de- 
pendent upon  cotton  for  a  living,  felt  that  there  ought  to  be  some 
decisive  steps  taken  looking  to  an  increase  in  the  price  of  cotton. 
Cotton  was  selling,  in  most  places,  below  the  cost  of  production, 
and  farmers  who  were  forced  to  put  it  on  the  market  in  order  to 
meet  their  debts,  were  doing  so  at  a  loss.  The  feeling  materialized 
in  a  call  for  the  assembling  of  delegates  of  the  Farmers'  Union  at 
New  Orleans,  La.,  November  11,  1908. 

In  the  call  for  this  convention  an  invitation  was  extended  to 
others  than  the  members  of  the  Farmers'  Union  to  meet  in  open 
session  with  the  delegates  on  November  12.  In  Georgia,  Presi- 
dent John  L.  Lee  wrote  special  letters  of  invitation  to  bankers, 
merchants,  business  men  and  farmers  who  were  not  members  of 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  175 

the  Union,  askinj^^  them  to  be  present.  This  invitation  was  re- 
sponded to  by  quite  a  number  of  men  who  were  not  members  of 
the  Union. 

Georgia  sent  the  largest  delegation  of  any  State  to  the  New 
Orleans  convention.  On  the  morning  of  the  tenth,  delegates 
from  every  section  of  Georgia,  and  some  from  North  Carolina 
and  .South  Carolina,  met  in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  where  a  special 
train  was  provided  by  the  A.  &  W.  P.  Railway  people  to  carry 
them  to  the  seat  of  the  convention.  The  special  train  carried 
about  three  hundred  delegates.  The  New  Orleans  papers  in 
speaking  of  the  arrival  of  the  train  in  that  city  said  that :  "For 
awhile  after  its  arrival,  Canal  street  was  alive  with  farmers." 

The  slogan  of  the  convention  was  higher  prices  for  cotton. 
Many  of  the  delegates  wore  cotton  certificates,  which  easily  indi- 
cated to  all  present  that  many  of  the  members  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  leaned  to  this  idea.  The  warehouse  question  was  a  live 
one,  over  which  there  was  much  discussion,  and  for  which  there 
were  many  plans  proposed. 

Among  the  distinguished  visitors  was  Li  Sum  Ling,  editor  of 
the  Hong  Kong  Mail.  Li,  who  is  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  is 
a  very  bright  Oriental,  and  the  newspaper  of  which  he  is  the  head 
ranks  among  the  foremost  of  his  country.  Sitting  in  the  conven- 
tion and  noting  this  Chinaman,  one  could  not  help  but  wonder 
what  his  thoughts  were,  and  doubtless  his  write-up  of  the  conven- 
tion in  the  Hong  Kong  Mail  would  make  interesting  reading. 

Many  brilliant  speeches  were  made  by  visitors,  among  them  one 
by  Hon.  Thomas  E.  Watson,  of  Georgia,  one  by  Governor  J.  Y. 
Sanders  of  Louisiana,  and  one  b}'  C.  T.  Ladson  of  Atlanta. 

TOPEKA  BUSINESS  CONGRESS. 

What  is  known  as  the  Topeka  Business  Congress  met  in 
Topeka,  Kansas,  October,  1906.  This  meeting  was  attended  by 
delegates  from  most  of  the  Southern  States,  and  some  from  the 
grain-growing  States.  The  meeting  was  not  a  secret  one,  but 
was  open  to  delegates  who  represented  co-operative  interests  in 
every  section  of  the  United  States.  However,  the  majority  of 
the  delegates  present  were  members  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  and 
the  meeting  was  largely  under  the  direction  of  the  Union.  This 
congress  accomplished  very  little  for  the  farmer,  but  by  reason 
of  it  having  met  in  Topeka  the  attention  of  the  people  of  Kansas 
was  prominently  called  to  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  the  Kansas 
Farmers'  LTnion  reaped  some  good  from  this  meeting. 


176  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

THE  CONVENTION  OF  THE  SPINNERS  AND  GROWERS. 

Early  in  October,  1907,  representatives  from  many  English  and 
Continental  cotton  mills  of  Europe  met  representatives  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  and  the  Southern  Cotton  Growers'  Association  in 
a  conference  in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  Georgia.  Alany  of  the  leading 
spinners  of  Manchester,  England,  France,  Spain,  and  Ger- 
many were  present.  The  Farmers'  Union  delegation  held  execu- 
tive sessions  before  and  after  the  conference  meeting  each  day. 
At  one  of  these  sessions  R.  Seidenburg,  Jr.,  from  New  York  City, 
a  member  of  the  Cotton  Exchange,  and  said  to  be  Hubbard's 
right-hand  man,  was  present,  and  according  to  the  Atlanta  Geor- 
gian, got  a  little  better  opinion  of  the  Southern  farmers  than  he 
had  before.  The  Georgian  gives  a  bit  of  unwritten  history  of  the 
convention,  as  follows : 

■'During  the  conference  of  spinners,  President  Barrett,  of  the 
Farmers'  Union,  called  a  conference  of  Union  men  here  to  meet 
in  the  Senate  Chamber  in  the  evening.  President  Barrett  was 
passing  through  the  Piedmont  lobby  when  he  ran  across  Seiden- 
burg. 

"  'Where  are  }ou  going,  Barrett?'  asked  the  New  Yorker. 

"  'Over  to  the  capitol  to  a  little  conference  of  the  boys,'  was  the 
reply. 

"  'Say,  Barrett,  you  know  I  should  like  to  go  to  that  meeting. 
You  people  do  not  understand  the  New  York  Cotton  Exchange 
and  our  methods.  I  should  like  to  talk  to  your  people,  and  I 
think  we  can  come  to  a  better  understanding,'  said  Seidenburg. 

"  'Well,  old  fellow,'  said  President  Barrett,  'I  am  going  to  smash 
a  precedent  by  admitting  an  outsider  to  one  of  our  meetings.  The 
only  condition  is  that  you  will  let  the  boys  ask  you  a  few  questions.' 

"Seidenburg  agreed  readily.  Charlie  Barrett  is  far  from  being 
as  unsophisticated  as  surface  appearances  might  indicate.  Before 
the  broker  saw  the  inside  of  the  Senate  chamber  some  of  'the  boys' 
were  told  he  was  coming. 

"Just  what  happened  inside  of  that  room  in  the  next  two  hours 
will  perhaps  never  be  known.  No  Farmers'  Union  man  will  tell 
you,  and  it  could  not  be  wrung  out  of  Seidenburg  with  a  clothes 
press.  It  is  known  that  he  came  out  of  that  session  wearing  a 
rather  dazed  expression,  while  several  score  plain  old  farmers 
came  away  licking  their  chops  as  though  the  meal  was  quite  satis- 
fying.^ 

"Seidenburg,  so  the  story  goes,  made  a  twenty-minute  talk.  It 
was  as  smooth  as  velvet,  suave,  and  altogether  to  the  glorv  of  the 


OF   THK    farmers'    UNION.  177 

New  York  Cotton  Exchange.  He  was  given  most  respectful 
hearing.  Those  Union  men  sat  drinking  in  all  that  the  smooth 
Gothamite  was  saying  as  if  believing  it  every  word. 

"Then  the  storm  broke  loose.  Concluding  his  remarks,  he  was 
under  a  running  fire  of  questions  for  an  hour  and  a  half.  And 
every  shot  told.  No  mistaking  the  fact  that  those  tillers  of  the 
soil  knew  a  deal  about  business. 

"Before  it  was  over  Mr.  Seidenburg  felt  that  they  knew  even 
more  than  he  did  about  the  cotton  business.  When  pinned 
squarely  down  to  it,  he  admitted  that  the  New  York  Cotton  Ex- 
change needed  regulating  in  certain  particulars. 

"  'Say.'  Seidenburg  is  reported  to  have  said  to  a  friend  after- 
wards, 'don't  you  go  on  the  theory  that  these  Southern  cotton 
growers  are  as  green  as  most  people  think.  They  are  about  the 
shrewdest  bunch  I  ever  ran  across,  and  they  gave  me  about  the 
most  uncomfortable  hour  and  a  half  I've  spent  in  a  long  while.' 

"Ask  a  Farmers'  Union  man  about  it,  and  he  will  only  smile. 
But  it  is  a  satisfied  smile." 

This  conference  did  not  bring  about  the  good  results  that  many 
hoped  it  would.  For  many  had  expected  to  get  into  direct  touch 
with  the  spinners  and  ship  cotton  from  their  delivery  point  to  the 
cotton  mills  of  Europe.  This,  however,  has  not  been  realized. 
The  future  may  witness  the  direct  trade  relations  hoped  for,  and 
with  continued  aggressiveness  on  the  part  of  Union  members  this 
can  be  realized. 


Vi 


178  MISSION,   HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


BKIEF  UISTORY  OF  THE  FARMERS'  ALLIANCE— PRINCIPLES 
OF  THE  ORDER— THE  ALLIANCE  IN  POLITICS— STRIFE 
AND  BITTERNESS— HOW  THE  ALLIANCE  BEGAN— REA- 
SONS FOR  THE  EXISTENCE  OF  THE  ALLIANCE— DOWN- 
FALL OF  THE  ALLIANCE— THE  FARMERS'  WHEEL- 
CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  WHEEL,  GRANGE,  ETC. 

NO  history  of  the  Farmers'  Union  would  be  complete  with- 
out a  brief  history  of  the  Alliance  and  kindred  farmers' 
organizations.  The  Farmers'  Alliance  and  other  organ- 
izations of  a  like  nature  have  been  as  stepping  stones  to  the 
Farmers'  Union.  After  the  war  the  Southern  farmers  found 
themselves  practically  bankrupted,  and  had  to  do  business  on  a 
credit  and  mortgage  system.  Unscrupulous  tradesmen  took  undue 
advantage  of  this  condition  of  afifairs  to  overcharge  for  what  they 
had  to  sell  and  to  under  pay  for  what  the  farmer  had  to  sell. 

The  National  Grange,  the  Farmers'  Wheel  and  the  Farmers' 
Alliance  were  organized  as  protests  against  mercenary  oppressors. 
Fach  played  their  part,  and  the  farmers  were  better  off  for  having 
had  membership  in  those  organizations  than  if  they  had  not. 

The  most  prominent  of  these  organizations,  and  the  one  that 
attracted  the  widest  attention,  was  the  Alliance.  This  organization 
played  an  important  part  in  the  politics  of  the  nation  for  some  six 
or  eight  years.  The  policies  outlined  by  the  Alliance  have,  in 
some  measures,  become  incorporated  into  the  platform  of  most  of 
the  political  parties. 

Politicians,  however,  caused  the  disintegration  of  the  best  farm- 
ers' organization  that  the  world  had  ever  known  up  to  that  time — 
the  Alliance.  Politicians,  noting  the  rapidity  with  which  the 
farmers  were  flocking  into  the  Alliance,  hastily  availed  themselves 
of  the  chance  to  profess  their  love  for  and  their  undying  devotion 
to  the  .Mliancc,  and  later  some  of  them  turned  traitors. 

The  farmers  believed  the  politicians  who  told  them  that  if  they 
would  elect  them  to  official  positions/  that  they  would  do  great 
and  wonderful  things  for  the  country.     Schemers  looking  for  po- 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  179 

litical  preferment  and  emoluments  of  office  were  as  thick  as  the 
proverbial  hair  on  tlie  dog's  back.  They  were  everywhere.  They 
swarmed  to  the  mass  meetings,  rallies,  picnics  and  conventions  of 
the  Alliance,  and  with  pleasant  phrases  and  sugared  nothings 
patted  the  farmer  on  the  back  and  told  him  that  he  was  a  good  fel- 
low and  ought  to  be  represented  in  the  distribution  of  office.  Every 
man  who  wanted  an  office  praised  the  Alliance,  and  told  the  mem- 
bers that  they  could  do  anything.  The  members  of  the  Alliance, 
not  versed  in  the  ways  of  the  politician,  readily  accepted  the  state- 
ments made,  and  set  to  work  to  elect  men  to  the  various  offices, 
from  bailiff  of  a  militia  district  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States. 

In  some  of  the  States  all  the  officials,  including  the  Governor,  a 
majority  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature  and  the  State  Senate, 
were  elected  by  members  of  the  Alliance.  A  number  of  Congress- 
men and  Senators  were  elected.  It  looked  at  one  time  as  if  the 
Alliance  would  be  a  very  formidable  political  party.  The  Repub- 
lican and  Democratic  parties  saw  in  the  Alliance  a  dangerous  rival. 
Bitterness  and  strife  marked  the  progress  of  the  campaigns.  States 
were  torn  asunder,  old  political  parties  were  broken  up  and  old- 
line  politicians  were  thrown  out  of  office.  These  politicians  who 
lost  their  jobs  and  who  were  out  of  touch  with  the  Alliance  put 
their  heads  together  and  began  industriously  to  lay  plans  for  the 
destruction  of  the  Alliance.  They  met  the  defenders  of  the  Alliance 
principles  in  joint  debates,  and  adroitly  brought  accusations  against 
some  of  its  prominent  leaders.  These  accusations  sowed  seed  of 
dissension  among  the  membership  that  sprang  up  and  bore  fruit 
in  a  very  short  time.  As  long  as  the  membership  of  the  Alliance 
was  a  unit  they  swept  everything  before  them,  but  when  they 
began  to  wrangle  and  to  lose  confidence  in  the  leaders,  the  old-line 
politicians  knew  that  the  days  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  were  num- 
bered. 

The  overthrow  of  the  Alliance  was  the  object  of  many  plans 
and  schemes  and  shrewd  trickery.  To  get  a  fight  going  within 
the  ranks  was  all  the  politician  wanted.  Like  the  famous  Roman 
orator,  Marc  Antonv,  he  could  say,  "Exeunt,  Mischief,  thou  are 
afoot !" 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  .ALLIANCE. 

The  Farmers'  Alliance  had  its  beginning  at  Poolville,  Parker 
County,  Texas,  and  was  organized  July  28,  1879.  Some  four  years 
previous  to  this  time  the  settlers  of  Lampassas  County  had  organ- 
ized in  opposition  to  the  encroachment  of  the  cattlemen.  They 
called  their  organization  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  but  it  soon  fell 


180  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

through.  Late  in  the  year  1879  delegates  from  Parker  and  ad- 
joining counties  met  and  organized  a  State  Alliance.  The  Al- 
liance worked  for  the  first  year  without  any  charter.  On  the  6th 
of  October,  1880,  a  charter  from  the  State  of  Texas,  empowering 
the  organization  to  grant  charters  and  transact  any  other  business 
was  secured.  On  the  18th  day  of  January,  1887,  a  National  Al- 
liance was  organized  at  Waco,  Texas.  The  delegates  composing 
this  body  were  principally  from  Texas  and  Louisiana.  They 
adopted  a  constitution  and  by-laws  and  outlined  the  plan  by  which 
the  work  was  to  be  started  in  other  States. 

Newt.  Gresham,  the  founder  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  along  with 
four  other  organizers,  was  sent  into  the  State  of  Alabama.  J.  B. 
Wilkes  about  the  same  time  came  to  Georgia.  Florida,  Mississippi, 
Kentucky,  Arkansas,  and  North  Carolina  were  visited  by  organ- 
izers about  the  same  time.  Tennessee  was  entered  by  the  organ- 
izers some  time  during  the  year. 

The  next  National  Alliance  met  in  the  city  of  Dallas,  with  dele- 
gates from  nine  States.  This  convention  considered  the  questions 
of  transportation,  education,  politics,  and  co-operation.  Commit- 
tees reported  on  these  various  subjects. 

In  October,  1887,  delegates  from  ten  States  representing  the 
Alliance,  and  delegates  from  other  States  representing  the  Wheel, 
a  prominent  organization  of  farmers,  met  in  Shreveport,  La.,  for 
the  purpose  of  devising  plans  of  mutual  co-operation.  This  meet- 
ing remained  in  session  for  five  days,  and  every  phase  of  co- 
operation was  discussed.  It  was  the  opinion  of  a  large  number 
of  the  delegates  w  ho  represented  both  orders  that  the  Alliance  and 
the  Wheel  ought  to  be  merged  into  one. 

In  1888  delegates  from  the  National  Alliance  and  the  National 
Wheel  met  in  the  city  of  Meridian,  Mississippi,  and  agreed  upon 
the  consolidation  of  the  two  organizations,  provided  that  three- 
fourths  of  the  States  of  both  organizations  ratified  the  proposi- 
tion. This  proposition  was  submitted  to  a  vote  of  several  States, 
and  was  ratified  by  the  membership.  This  consolidation  proved 
beneficial,  and  the  Alliance  started  on  a  campaign  of  aggressive- 
ness. The  West  was  entered,  and  soon  strong  organizations  ex- 
isted in  the  grain-growing  States. 

REASONS   FOR  THE  EXISTENCE  OF  TIFK  ALLIANCE. 

An  emergency  of  national  importance  called  into  existence  the 
Alliance.  Farms  were  mortgaged  and  the  country  people  were  re- 
ceiving but  few  educational  advantages.  The  non-producing  class 
controlled,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  farmers  felt  that 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  181 

they  ought  to  receive  some  kind  of  recognition.  Mortgages  were 
eating  up  the  farmer,  toil  as  he  would.  Many  of  the  farmers  could 
not  meet  the  expenses  of  the  farm  and  pay  interest  on  the  out- 
standing indebtedness. 

Kansas  is  said  to  have  been  as  much  mortgaged  as  was  South 
Carolina.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Alliance  there 
were  not  many  farms  in  either  State  that  did  not  have  during 
some  part  of  the  year  a  mortgage  upon  it.  What  was  true  of 
Kansas  and  South  Carolina,  as  concerns  the  mortgaging  of  farms, 
was  true  of  almost  every  other  agricultural  State  in  the  United 
States. 

The  schoolhouses  were  makeshifts,  and  the  school  terms  barely 
three  months  in  length.  Teachers  were  poorly  paid,  so  much  so 
that  no  teacher  wanted  to  go  into  the  country  for  a  three-months' 
term  and  teach  for  the  salary  paid.  The  country  people  longed 
for  something  better.  They  wished  a  change.  They  wanted  to 
pay  off  the  mortgages,  but  did  not  have  the  means  to  do  so.  They 
wanted  better  schools  and  better  teachers,  but  did  not  know  how 
to  secure  them.  They  knew  that  they  were  paying  their  propor- 
tion of  the  taxes,  but  did  not  know  how  to  get  their  share. 

The  mutterings  of  the  people  became  more  apparent  and  the 
sentiment  that  they  were  not  rightly  treated  grew  day  by  day. 
They  understood  what  they  needed  and  what  they  wanted,  but  did 
not  know  how  to  get  it.  As  individuals  they  were. powerless.  What 
could  one  man  do  against  a  thousand  ?  The  farmers  went  about  in 
a  listless  manner.  The  future  held  out  to  them  but  little  of  promise. 
They  must  work  and  work  to  keep  the  interest  paid  up  on  the 
mortgage  on  the  farm.  At  the  end  of  the  year  they  always  found 
that  there  was  very  little  left. 

•  The  sentiment  aniong  the  farmers,  due  to  some  extent  to  preju- 
dices, drew  them  in  great  numbers  into  the  Alliance,  and  when 
politics  became  a  factor  they'  joined  even  more  rapidly  than  when 
the  slogan  was,  "In  things  essential,  unity  s^nd  in  all  things, 
charity." 

PRINCIPLES  OF  T?IE  ALLIANCE. 

The  purposes  of  the  Alliance,  as  worked  out,  were  for  the  best 
interest  of  the  farmer,  and  the  principles  as  set  forth  in  the  declara- 
tion of  purposes  are  lofty  and  noble.  The  clause  demanding  better 
educational  facilities  takes  rank  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  de- 
mands made  by  any  order  or  organization. 

In  business  matters  the  following  belief  is  expressed  :  "We 
believe  the  prevailing  system  is  in  many  particulars  wrong,  and 
that  between  the  producer  and  consumer,  the  buyer  and  the  seller, 


182 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


I'KOMINENT    WOIIKERS,    GEOKGIA    DIVISION. 

1.  D.   A.  f'AitJiiCAL,  Fouiulpr  of  Union   City  and   Pi*esldent  of  ('Mrinicnl 

Implement  Company. 

2.  .1.   I..    r.ARHON,   Kx-StntP   Hecretary-Treasiiroi-   and   Secretary  'I' icnsiii'ci- 

Union  riiospliato  Company. 
."'..   S.  S.  lUnniOTT,  Ex-dialrman  State  Kxccntlvo  Committee. 
4.    P..  .1.  WoOTKN,  Orpanlzcr  and  Lecturer, 
o.   J.  (i.  EUBANKS,  Stale  T'.nslness  Agent. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  183 

the  methods  should  be  changed,  the  process  shortened  and  the 
expenses  reduced,  and  plans  adopted  that  will  more  justly  and 
satisfactorily  distribute  the  profit  and  give  to  labor  a  fair  share 
of  its  earnings."  The  first  declaration  of  purposes  was  outspoken 
against  political  alignments,  and  in  this  same  declaration  appears 
a  strong  condemnation  of  class  legislation  and  the  existence  of 
monopolies.  Excessive  taxation  and  the  lavish  expenditure  of 
public  moneys  is  said  by  the  declaration  to  be  wrong. 

In  the  general  summary  lawsuits  and  litigations  between  mem- 
bers of  the  order  is  forbidden.  A  provision  for  the  settlement 
of  differences  and  misunderstandings  by  arbitration  is  made.  The 
general  summary  also  declares  :  '"We  shall  constantly  strive  to 
suppress  personal,' local,  sectional  and  national  prejudices."  Per- 
haps no  act  of  any  men  or  set  of  men  had  as  much  to  do  with 
breaking  down  the  barriers  between  the  North  and  South  and 
allaying  the  hatred  and  animosity  of  the  two  sections  as  did  the 
short  declaration  here  quoted.  "We  shall  teach  that,  as  citizens  of 
one  government,  we  should  feel  a  common  interest  in  its  affairs, 
and  that  our  patriotism  and  good  will  for  one  another  should  not 
be  measured  by  sections  or  geographical  lines  to  suit  the  purposes 
of  politicians." 

One  section  of  the  declaration  of  purposes  may  be  said  in  a 
measure  to  furnish  a  key  to  the  problem  why  the  Alliance  failed. 
It  is  well  to  insert  here  that  clause :  "In  our  meetings  and  through 
our  press  we  shall  discuss  and  examine  into  the  best  and  most 
approved  methods  of  farming ;  the  preparation  of  the  soil ;  plant- 
ing, cultivation,  harvesting,  handling  and  marketing  of  crops  and 
farm  and  agricultural  products  in  general ;  also  the  raising  of 
live  stock,  dairying,  fruit  growing,  gardening,  etc. ;  and,  in  short, 
every  branch  of  agriculture  that  goes  to  make  up  the  full  line  of 
farm  life  and  render  it  pleasant  and  profitable." 

The  production  and  yield  were  too  largely  stressed,  while  the 
selling  of  the  products  of  the  farm  was  given  but  little  attention. 
Farmers  vied  with  each  other  in  an  efifort  to  see  who  could  culti- 
vate the  most  acres  and  get  the  biggest  yield  from  it.  Some  desul- 
tory efiforts  were  made  at  warehouse  building,  but  these  were  for 
storage  purposes  only,  with  no  well-defined  plans  as  to  the  market- 
ing of  cotton  and  other  stufT  stored  in  the  warehouses. 

THE  farmers'  wiii:ki.. 

One  of  the  first  organizations  for  the  farmers  was  known  as 
the  Farmers'  Wheel,  and.  like  a  great  many  other  organizations  of 
a  like  nature,  was  of  humble  origin. 


184  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

In  February,  1882,  W.  A.  Suit  and  W.  T.  McBee  called  a  meet- 
ing of  farmers  in  an  old  log  schoolhouse  near  the  town  of  Desarc, 
in  Prairie  County,  Arkansas.  There  were  present  all  told  ten 
men;  eight  of  these  ten  took  part  in  the  meeting;  the  other  two 
did  not  look  with  favor  upon  the  movement.  At  this  time  the 
farmers  of  Arkansas  were  burdened  with  debts  and  mortgages, 
and  in  the  hope  that  they  might  render  their  condition  more  tenable 
they  organized  what  is  known  as  the  Farmers'  Wheel. 
•  A  writer  of  that  time  cites  the  following  as  one  of  the  many 
reasons  for  the  organization  of  the  Wheel : 

"Samuel  N.  Beard  executed  an  anaconda  mortgage  on  his  stock 
and  crop  to  be  grown ;  he  drew  $43  worth  of  supplies  at  the  usual 
prices  in  such  cases.  His  stock  and  crop  were  worth  more  than 
that  amount.  His  wife  languished  on  a  bed  of  sickness  during 
the  summer,  and  at  last  was  too  weak  to  digest  any  longer  the 
strong  and  coarse  food  which  her  husband  had,  and  her  doctor 
ordered  beef  tea.  .  .  .  The  door  of  the  cabin  in  which  he 
lived  had  no  shutter;  the  chill  November  winds  were  sweeping 
through  it,  imperiling  the  life  of  his  wife.  In  this  extremity  he 
bartered  seventy  pounds  of  his  cotton  for  lean  beef  to  make  soup 
for  his  wife  and  for  a  shutter  to  the  door.  For  this,  Beard  was 
indicted  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  one  year.  He  offered  to 
show  that  the  property  covered  by  the  mortgage  exceeded  in 
value  the  mortgage  debt,  and  that  he  could  have  no  intention  to 
defraud ;  but  the  court  said  that  the  statute  said  nothing  about  the 
intention  with  which  the  act  was*  done,  and  that  it  was  also  im- 
material whether  the  remaining  property  was  worth  more  or  less 
than  the  mortgage  debt ;  that  the  pfifense  by  the  words  of  the  act 
was  complete  by  the  simple  act  of  selling  or  trading  any  part  of 
the  mortgaged  property,  without  regard  to  motive  or  any  other 
facts,  and  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  affirmed  the  judgment. 
But  the  judges  of  that  court  were  so  shocked  at  the  inhumanity  of 
the  law  (and  should  have  been  none  the  less  shocked  at  the 
merchant)  that  they  urged  upon  the  legislature  its  repeal  or  modi- 
fication, and  under  pressure  of  that  recommendation  it  was  modi- 
fied ;  but  in  the  meantime  Beard  was  sent  to  the  penitentiary.  He 
was  pardoned  by  the  Governor." 

CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  WHEEL. 

The  constitution  of  the  Wheel  expressly  provided  "that  it  shall 
be  for  the  improvement  of  its  members  in  the  theory  and  practice 
of  agriculture  and  the  dissemination  of  knowledge  relative  to  rural 
and  farming  affairs."     The  eligibility  of  members  was  limited  to 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  185 

"white  persons  who  would  sign  the  constitution  and  by-laws  and 
who  were  engaged  in  farming."  The  officers  were  president,  two 
vice-presidents,  secretary,  chaplain  and  treasurer. 

One  month  after  organization  there  were  but  twenty-one  mem- 
bers. From  this  time  on  the  growth  was  more  pronounced,  and 
on  April  19,  1883,  the  State  Wheel  was  organized  at  the  residence 
of  W.  T.  McBee,  near  the  place  where  the  first  local  Wheel  was 
organized.  The  second  year  w^as  one  of  increase.  Tennessee  and 
other  States  were  organized. 

During  the  year  1884  seven  States  and  one  territory  had  local 
Wheels.  The  Wheel  grew  from  seven  members  in  1882  to  five 
hundred  thousand  in  1887,  and  up  to  that  time  was  the  largest  body 
of  organized  farmers  in  the  country.  The  Wheel  was  instrumental 
in  doing  a  great  deal  of  good,  and  would  have  doubtless  grown 
to  be  a  mammoth  organization  had  it  not  been  absorbed  bv  the 
Fanners'  Alliance  at  Meridian,  Mississippi,  in  1888. 

THE  GRANGE. 

An  organization  that  began  in  the  Northwest  shortly  after  the 
war  was  styled  the  Grange.  This  organization  spread  through 
most  of  the  States  and  Territories  of  the  United  States,  and  at 
one  time  was  a  very  prominent  organization  in  the  South.  It  is 
still  very  strong  and  useful  in  the  North  and  Middle  West.  The 
Grange  devoted  its  energies  to  buying.  The  chief  officials  and  the 
membership  considered  this  as  one  of  the  very  important  policies 
of  the  order.  For  years  the  Grange  thrived  and  grew,  but  the 
Alliance  supplanted  it  in  many  States. 

The  present  officials  of  the  Grange  are  N.  J.  Bachelder,  Master, 
Concord,  New  Hampshire,  and  C.  M.  Freeman,  Secretary,  Tip- 
pecanoe City,  Ohio. 

The  Grange  has  organizations  in  New  Hampshire,  West  Vir- 
ginia, New  Jersey,  New  York,  Ohio,  Vermont,  and  other  States. 
In  the  northeastern  section  of  the  United  States  the  organization 
has  lived  through  all  these  years  and  has  been  the  means  of  bene- 
fiting its  membership. 

THE  AMERICAN  SOCIETY  OF  EQUITY. 

In  the  Middle  West  and  Northwest  is  to  be  found  the  American 
Society  of  Equity.  This  society  is  confined  largely  to  the  grain- 
growing  belt.  Its  meetings  are  after  the  mass  meeting  kind.  There 
is  no  secret  work,  passwords  or  signs.  For  many  years  this  society 
has  held  its  meetings  in  country  sections,  towns  and  hamlets,  and 
has  succeeded  in  improving  farm  conditions. 


186  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

The  Society  of  Equity  was  founded  by  J.  A.  Everett,  of  Indian- 
apolis, in  October,  1902,  and  had  for  its  object  the  consolidation  of 
the  farmers  of  the  country.  Its  operation  has  been  confined  largely 
to  securing-  better  prices  for  Western  farm  products.  J.  A.  Everett 
was  the  first  president. 

OTHER  farmers'  ORGANIZATIONS. 

There  have  been  several  other  farmers'  organizations  which  ex- 
isted for  aw'hile,  but  finally  died  or  were  merged  with  other  organ- 
izations under  different  names.  Some  of  these  organizations  cov- 
ered two  or  three  States,  while  others  were  confined  to  counties 
or  congressional  districts.  Illinois  has  led  in  point  of  number  of 
organizations.  The  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association  was 
organized  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State  in  1886.  The  Farmers' 
Social  and  Economic  Union  was  organized  at  Bush  Creek  School- 
house  April  27,  1900,  and  received  a  charter  from  the  State  of 
Illinois  May  17,  1900.  The  Farmers'  Relief  Association  was  or- 
ganized at  Frail  Schoolhouse  May,  1900,  and  consolidated  with  the 
Farmers'  Union  April  26.  1906.  All  these  organizations  were  later 
merged  with  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union 
of  America  March  27,  1907. 

All  these  organizations  did  a  considerable  amount  of  good, 
spreading,  as  they  did,  into  Indiana,  Kentucky,  and  Missouri. 


OF    THE    FAR.MliRS'    UNIOX.  187 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


PF.RSONAL  REMINISCENCES  — STATE  BUSINESS  AGENT  — 
VISITING  COUNTY  TO  GET  COURTHOUSE  DOOR  OPENED^ 
EXPERIENCES  WITH  AN  ORGANIZER— WHAT  THE  DRUM- 
MERS SAID— AN  ORGANIZER  SUMMONED  TO  APPEAR 
BEFORE  THE  MAYOR— BORROWING  MONEY— SETTLING 
•  A  ROW  IN  A  COUNTY  UNION— BEING  SUED— CANED  FOR 
DOING  DUTY. 

MY  experiences  in  connection  with  the  Farmers'  Union  have 
been  varied.  Some  of  the  experiences  have  been  serious 
and  some  of  them  funny.  All  tend  to  show  the  class  and 
condition  of  the  people  Avith  whom  the  officials  have  had  to  deal 
in  the  past  and  with  whom  they  will  have  to  deal  in  the  future. 
I  had  some  hesitancy  in  taking  up  so  delicate  a  subject  as  this,  but 
many  of  my  friends  who  knew  of  instances  hereinafter  set  forth, 
as  a  lawyer  would  say,  urged  me  to  write  them  down  for  the  guid- 
ance of  those  who  may  have  to  deal  with  like  things  in  the  future. 
Before  the  State  Union  was  organized  in  Georgia,  we  had  a 
State  meeting  in  Thomaston,  at  which  some  forty  counties  were 
represented.  At  this  meeting,  T  was  chosen  as  Business  Agent  for 
the  State,  which  then  had  312  local  Unions.  Representatives  from  . 
these  locals  pledged  one  dollar  per  month  from  each  local  Union 
to  help  defray  the  expenses  of  the  department.  The  delegates  were 
very  enthusiastic  over  the  proposition,  so  they  went  home,  and 
the  enthusiasm  died  out  to  some  extent,  for  after  five  months,  when 
my  books  were  examined  by  a  committee,  but  $46.00  had  been 
sent  in  from  the  312  local  Unions.  The  remainder  of  the  story 
is  copied  from  Tom  Watson's  Jeifersonian: 

"At  one  of  the  early  State  Conventions,  Sir  Grumpety  Growler 
and  Colonel  Greeneye  Marplot  made  some  remarks  that  indicated 
doubt  as  to  whether  the  finances  had  been  properly  handled.  Bar- 
rett quietly  produced  the  books  and  vouchers,  which  not  only  proved 
that  he  had  been  working  for  almost  nothing,  but  had  spent  from 
his  own  slender  resources  several  hundred  dollars  to  keep  the  thing 
going.     Ashamed  of  their  suspicions  and  grumblings,  the  conven- 


188  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

tioii  sent  out  a  committee  to  buy  for  their  president  the  finest  gold 
watch  that  could  be  found  in  Atlanta — a  gift  to  remind  him  of  their 
affectionate  eratitude/' 


The  first  money  I  got  to  run  my  Business  Department,  I  bor- 
rowed from  R.  F.  Duckworth,  but  I  do  not  know  from  whom  he 
borrowed  the  $50.00  which  he  loaned  me. 


My  first  official  act  after  being  elected  President  of  Georgia, 
was  to  visit  a  county  for  the  purpose  of  getting  the  courthouse 
door  opened,  in  which  the  County  Union  had  been  meeting,  and 
from  which  they  had  been  excluded  by  order  of  the  county  officials. 
I  secured  the  services  of  an  attorney,  who  was  a  consequential- 
looking  young  fellow,  and  capable  of  assuming  the  gravity  of  an 
English  Chief  Justice.  He  had  his  head  high  in  the  air  like  a 
thoroughbred.  Before  starting,  I  told  the  young  lawyer  if  he 
would  do  as  I  said,  we  would  have  no  trouble  in  impressing  the 
sheriff  and  other  county  officials  with  our  importance.  The  attor- 
ney said :  "No,  you  do  as  I  say.  I'm  the  attorney,  and  ought  to 
be  listened  to."  I  said,  "No,  you  ask  a  lot  of  questions,  and  look 
wise,"  all  of  which  he  did  to  perfection.  I  told  him  to  ask  for  their 
records  and  proceed  to  examine  them  in  a  manner  to  convince 
them  that  he  was  no  ordinary  lawyer  of  small  calibre,  but  one  of 
great  mental  capacity  and  much  learning.  Arriving  at  the  depot, 
I  expected  to  see  a  large  crowd  of  farmers  and  countrymen  down 
to  meet  me,  as  I  was  their  newly-elected  president,  but  to  my  great 
disappointment,  I  did  not  see  but  one  man  who  looked  like  he  was 
from  the  country.  He  was  at  the  far  end  of  the  platform,  and  came 
slowly  toward  the  attorney  and  myself^  as  if  he  was  afraid  to  be 
found  in  our  company.  I  went  forward  and  armed  him.  Together 
he,  the  attorney  and  myself,  started  up  the  street.  I  asked  my 
new-found  friend  where  the  rest  of  the  boys  were,  and  he  said 
"They  are  around  town  somewhere."  On  our  way,  two  or  three 
came  out  of  an  alley  and  joined  us.  In  answer  to  my  questions, 
they  told  me  that  the  other  boys  were  around  town  somewhere,  but 
I  could  not  see  them.  Now,  do  not  understand  me  to  say  that 
anybody  had  been  hid  out.  At  the  courthouse,  the  young  lawyer 
played  his  part  well,  and  I  got  to  talking  pretty  big.  The  boys  who 
had  not  hid  out,  hearing  me,  began  to  pour  in,  and  in  a  short  while 
we  had  two  or  three  hundred  farmers  in  and  around  the  courthouse. 
In  some  way,  the  doors  of  the  courthouse  were  opened  ;  not  by 


OF  THE  farmers'  union.  189 

force  or  violence,  but  they  were  opened,  nevertheless,  and  we  had 
a  good  county  meeting. 

One  of  the  funniest  experience  i  ever  had  was  with  a  cracker- 
jack  organizer.  This  man  had  raised  a  lot  of  sand  while  I  was 
State  President  in  Georgia,  and  with  the  sand-raising  organized 
a  lot  of  local  Unions.  He  invited  me  to  his  chief  stamping  ground 
to  help  him.  fie  met  me  at  the  depot  with  a  carriage  and  a  pair  of 
fine  horses,  and  carried  me  to  a  good  hotel,  where  I  was  dined  in 
royal  style.  After  dinner  he  borrowed  the  money  from  me  to  pay 
for  the  carriage  and  the  dinner.  Of  course  that  was  the  last  I  ever 
saw  of  that  money.  Next  he  took  me  out  to  see  a  large  crowd  that 
he  said  he  had  lassoed  for  me  to  organize.  He  may  have  iiad 
them  lassoed,  but  he  did  not  have  them  branded,  and  the  rope  was 
not  on  very  tight  anyhow.  He  made  one  of  the  finest  speeches  I 
ever  heard,  but  the  crowd  did  not  seem  to  warm  up  somehow,  and 
there  was  nothing  doing  in  the  membership  line.  After  he  had 
finished,  a  substantial-looking  old  fellow  took  me  aside  and  said : 
"If  you  get  rid  of  that  damned  dude  I  will  join  your  shebang." 
That  "damned  dude"  had  on  a  collar  as  high  as  a  whitewashed 
fence,  a  plug  hat,  silk  hosiery,  and  a  jim  swinger.  He  illustrates 
that  you  cannot  approach  the  farmer  with  the  same  methods  that 
will  go  in  the  city,  though  I  do  not  say  that  the  farmer  is  not  en-_ 
titled  to  and  ought  not  to  wear  a  plug  hat. 


On  one  occasion  I  was  going  from  Barnesville  to  Thomaston 
at  night  on  the  train.  The  coach  was  dimly  lighted  with  a  few- 
kerosene  lamps,  and  one  could  not  see  very  well  in  the  hazy  atmos- 
phere. On  the  seat  just  ahead  of  me  sat  two  drummers,  who  dis- 
cussed the  Farmers'  Union  and  my  connection  with  it  from  the 
time  we  started  until  we  arrived  at  our  destination.  I  \vas  forced 
to  sit  and  listen  to  every  word  they  said,  without  their  knowing  of 
my  presence.  They  said  I  was  receiving  a  $10,000  salary  a  year, 
and  was  fleecing  the  poor  farmer,  together  with  a  good  many  other 
things  almost  as  complimentary,  intended  to  show  that  I  was  a 

wolf  in  sheep's  clothing,  and  a  d n  fool  in  addition.     In  the 

course  of  the  sulphuric  and  profane  commentary,  they  declared 
that  the  farmers  would  not  join  the  Union,  and  if  they  did.  they 

would  not  stick,  and  even  if  they  did  stick,  the  d n  fools  did  not 

have  sense  enough  to  do  anything.  While  they  were  talking,  a 
passenger  who  had  overheard  them  leaned  over  and  said :  "You 
fellows  had  better  get  a  move  on  yourselves,  for  this  is  one  time 


190 


MISSION,    HISTORY  AND   TIMES 


I'ROMINENT    WORKERS,    GEORGIA    DIVISION. 

1.  William  Phillips,  Prominent  Organizer. 

2.  W.  L.  MoouK,  Manager  Buying  Department. 

3.  C.  11.  GuLLATT,  Manager  Cotton  School. 

4.  C.  W.  H.  Smith,  Prominent  Organizer. 

5.  .1.  E.  BoDENHAsr.MKK,  Business  Manager  Farmers'  Union  News. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  191 

when  the  d n  fools  are  ffoing  to  do  something."    'J'he  next  day 

I  met  one  of  the  drummers  in  town,  and  was  introduced  to  him. 
I  told  him  that  I  had  overheard  his  conversation,  through  no  fault 
of  my  own,  and  explained  a  few  things  regarding  tJie  Union  to 
him.     He  is  today  one  of  my  friends. 

*  *     * 

When  my  County  Union  (Upson)  was  organized,  the  organizer, 
a  very  intelligent  and  persistent  worker,  had  called  the  meeting 
for  10  o'clock.  On  the  afternoon  before  the  meeting,  the  organ- 
izer was  summoned  by  the  marshal  to  appear  before  the  Mayor  at 
lo  o'clock  the  next  morning.  A  trivial  charge  had  been  preferred 
against  him  so  as  to  take  him  away  from  the  meeting  at  the  ap- 
pointed hour,  and  prevent  the  County  ITnion  from  being  organized. 
The  meeting  took  place  as  advertised,  and  the  Upson  County 
Union  was  organized  according  to  schedule.  Frank  Duckworth, 
the  State  Organizer,  appeared  on  the  scene  just  in  time. 

*  *     * 

One  of  my  first  official  acts  after  being  elected  a  member  of 
the  National  Board  of  Directors  was  to  proceed  with  five  others 
to  give  a  note  for  a  thousand  dollars  to  help  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  national  organization.  Newt.  Gresham,  O.  P.  Pyle,  Camp- 
bell Russell,  I.  N.  McCoUister,  E.  J-  Cook  and  myself  signed  the 
note  and  secured  the  money.  When  this  thousand  dollars  was 
used  up,  we  proceeded  to  borrow  five  hundred  more,  but  by  that 
time  the  dues  were  coming  in,  and  we  did  not  have  to  borrow  any 
more  money. 

My  first  official  act  as  National  President  was  to  settle  a  row  in 
one  of  the  most  aristocratic  counties  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  This 
was  one  of  the  so-called  Union  rows,  in  which  some  of  the  most 
prominent  men  in  the  State  took  sides.  For  some  time  it  looked 
as  if  there  might  be  real  trouble.  I  was  inexperienced  then,  and 
did  not  know  how  to  take  things  of  the  kind,  and  then  the  promi- 
nence of  the  parties  dazed  me,  but  I  got  through  with  it  some- 
how. I  do  not  know  how  successful  I  was,  but  the  Countv  Union 
is  still  alive  and  doing  business.  I  have  never  had  the  pleasure  of 
visiting  the  county  since  in  an  official  capacity,  but  I  have  manv 
assurances  of  a  heartv  welcome  if  T  ever  do. 


I,  along  with  five  others,  was  once  sued  for  $200,000  to  cover 
damages  that  was  chargfed  we  had  done  to  the  feelings  and  charac- 


192  MISSION,   HISTORY   AND  TIMES 

ter  of  certain  members  of  the  organization.  The  jury  made  a  mis- 
trial. I  was  afterward  informed  that  one  of  the  jurymen  wanted 
to  give  damages  against  four  of  us  to  the  amount  of  one  dollar^ 
my  part  being  twenty-five  cents ;  another  wanted  to  fine  four  of 
us  two  hundred  dollars — my  part  being  fifty  dollars,  and  the  other 
ten  were  against  giving  anything  whatever.  A  mistrial  was  the 
result.  Originally  the  suit,  as  stated,  was  for  $20o,cxdo,  but  those 
bringing  the  suit  thought  that  amount  too  high,  and  reduced  it  to 
$40,000. 

^         ^  ^  , 

At  a  State  meeting,  I  was  on  a  street  car  late  at  night,  when  I 
saw  a  crowd  coming  down  from  upstairs.  One  of  the  number  got 
on  the  car,  and  I  asked  him  what  they  were  doing  up  there.  He 
said  they  had  just  held  a  caucus,  and  had  decided  that  I  should 
not  preside  over  the  meeting  next  day.  I  presided,  however,  and 
the  leader  of  the  caucus  headed  a  delegation  that  presented  me 
with  a  handscme  cane  for  fairness  in  my  rulings.  This  was  one 
instance  where  I  reallv  got  "caned"  for  doing  mv  dutv. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  193 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


ROOSEVELT  AND  THE  COMMISSION  ON  COUNTRY  LIFE. 

IT  has  been  my  privilege  and  my  pleasure  to  be  of ^some  slight 
service  to  the  farmers  of  America  in  connection  with 
President  Roosevelt's  Commission  on  Country  Life. 

Many  of  our  State  and  National  conventions  have  adopted  reso- 
lutions thanking  Mr.  Roosevelt  for  his  intelligent  interest  in  the 
farmers  of  this  country,  and  his  aid  and  influence  in  the  solution 
of  their  problems.  I  am  not,  therefore,  overstepping  the  bounds 
when  I  give  due  tribute  to  this  truly  remarkable  man.  He  is  now 
in  the  retirement  of  private  life,  or,  rather,  he  is  giving  the  wild 
animals  of  the  African  jungle  some  very  unhappy  half  hours.  But 
he  has  been  of  infinite  service  to  the  common  people  of  America, 
not  in  the  sense  that  the  cheap  politician  uses  the  term  "common 
people,"  but  in  its  real  significance. 

Like  Henry  George  some  years  ago,  he  is  not  for  the  laboring 
man  or  the  farming  man ;  he  is  for  men ! 

He  has  done  more  to  bring  that  filmy  abstraction,  "the  square 
deal,"  into  actual  observance  than  any  President  in  our  history. 
He  may  have  disregarded  precedents  and  trodden  on  sensitive  toes. 
But  he  has  been  brave  and  vigorous,  according  to  his  light,  and 
we  could  ask  no  more  of  any  man  or  angel. 

The  Commission  on  Country  Life  did  not  seek,  as  some  of  our 
dense,  or  stupid,  or  malicious  friends  thought  it  sought,  to  teach 
the  farmer  his  business  or  to  make  over  creation  while-you-wait. 
It  was  founded  on  the  supposition  that  the  farmer  is  at  a  fatal  dis- 
advantage with  the  rest  of  society,  a  fact  that  has  been  stressed 
throughout  these  pages.  It  aimed  at  investigating  and  discovering 
these  inequalities  and  striving  to  remove  or  to  mitigate  them. 

The  report  of  the  commission,  of  which  the  newspapers  carried 
a  complete  summary,  is  significant  from  the  standpoint  that  many 
portions  of  its  recommendations  read  like  resolutions  passed  at 
Farmers'  Union  conventions. 

Many  of  the  measures  for  which  the  Union  stands,  have  been 
emphatically  favored  by  the  commission.    I  am  glad  to  have  been 

13 


194:  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

of  service  to  the  brethren  in  impressing  these  principles  on  the 
other  members  of  the  commission. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  commission  and  its  work, 
did  not  by  any  means  partake  of  a  political  office.  There  was  no 
compensation  from  the  government  or  any  other  source,  and  1  hap- 
pen to  know  that  some  of  the  commissioners  paid  at  least  part  of 
their  own  traveling  expenses.  They  were  simply  appointed  as  a 
sort  of  committee  to  investigate  and  report  on  conditions. 

Once  you  concede  that  the  countryman  is  at  woeful  disadvan- 
tage to  the  city  man  and  there  must  be  reasons  why ;  you  can  see 
the  cause  back  of  the  founding  of  the  Commisison  on  Country 
Life.  I  have  no  patience  with  these  thin-brained  brethren  who 
think  that  because  we  all  realize  the  needs  of  the  farmer  that  there 
is  no  use  to  talk  about  them. 

We  all  realize  the  righteousness  and  beauty  of  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments, but  we  would  be  a  mighty  poor  lot  if  we  ceased  teach- 
ing and  observing  them.  We  all  realize  that  it  is  the  commonest 
and  most  ordinary  thing  in  the  world  to  get  hungry  three  times  a 
day,  but  we  are  always  talking  about  it,  and  we  would  be  occupy- 
ing nice  little  plots  in  the  cemetery  if  we  did  not  hustle  to  meet  the 
needs  of  that  hunger. 

That  is  just  exactly  what  the  Commission  on  Country  Life  had 
as  the  object  of  its  existence. 

I  am  glad  to  say  that  it  by  no  means  interfered  with  the  dis- 
charge of  mv  duties  as  President  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  195 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


STATE   ORGANIZATION— TEXAS,   OKLAHOMA,   ARKANSAS. 

TEXAS. 

IN  a  history  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  it  is  necessary  to  give 
briefly  the  details  relating  to  the  organization  of  the  various 
State  Unions,  and  since  Texas  was  the  first  to  become 
organized  into  Statehood,  it  is  proper  that  she  should  occupy  a  posi- 
tion of  honor  among  her  sister  States. 

Time  and  space  will  not  permit  me  to  go  as  extensively  into  the 
details  of  the  various  State  organizations  as  I  wish.  However,  it 
is  my  purpose  to  record  the  principle  features,  and  to  give  a  brief 
history  of  each  State  organization  that  posterity  may  know  the 
struggles  that  determined  and  heroic  men  faced  in  every  part  of  the 
country;  the  opposition  with  which  they  were  met  at  every  place, 
and  the  successes  which  attended  their  splendid  efforts.  All  things 
considered,  the  progressive  march  of  the  Union  is  little  short  of 
marvelous. 

We  are  want  to  pay  tribute  to  the  valorous  deeds  of  the  brave 
who  have  sacrificed  their  lives  upon  the  alters  of  their  country. 
Nothing  so  stirs  the  fighting  blood  of  a  nation  or  raises  it  to  a 
fever  heat  as  the  result  of  patriotic  effort  made  in  defense  of  the 
country's  honor.  On  memorial  occasions  when  flowers  are  placed 
upon  the  graves  of  the  dead,  who  have  lain  down  their  lives  in  de- 
fense of  the  principles  of  their  country,  orators  in  well  rounded 
periods  stir  the  ardor  of  men  to  a  high  pitch.  The  student  poring 
over  musty  volumes  in  the  still  hours  of  the  night,  catches  an  in- 
spiration that  thrills  and  enthuses  him.  The  poet  searching  for 
figures  by  which  to  convey  the  idea  of  epic  greatness,  finds  no 
more  fitting  and  proper  subject  than  those  recorded  in  history. 
Could  I,  through  the  cold  printed  pages  of  this  book,  convey  to 
my  reader  an  idea  of  the  sufferings  and  disappointments  of  the 
men  who  tramped  through  heat  and  cold,  during  the  earlier  days 
of  the  Union  to  tell  the  farmers  about  the  organization,  it  would 
prove  a  task  greater  than  I  am  able  to  accomplish. 


196  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

The  great  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Union  was  conceived  in 
the  mind  of  Farmer  Newt.  Gresham.  Gresham  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Farmers'  AlHance,  in  which  order  he  was  an  active 
worker  and  organizer.  He  kept  his  membership  in  the  AlHance 
until  the  grand  old  organization,  the  forerunner  of  the  Union, 
was  laid  to  rest  in  a  premature  grave.  As  soon  as  the  Alliance 
had  passed  into  history,  Gresham  began  to  prepare  for  a  new  and 
a  better  organization  for  the  farmers.  For  sometime  he  thought 
over  the  best  plan  of  launching  the  new  organization,  which  was 
to  be  different  from  any  which  had  gone  before.  The  new 
organization  must  not  only  embrace  the  best  principles  of  all  that 
had  gone  before,  but  must  be  educative  as  well  and  in  keeping 
with  the  onward  march  of  the  progressive  twentieth  century.  The 
organization  which  Gresham  had  in  mind  was  also  co-operative  in 
its  nature.  He  finally  decided  to  call  the  new  organization  The 
Farmers*  Educational  and  Co-Operative  Union  of  America — a 
name  which  within  itself  insured  the  success  of  the  new  order- 
Having  decided  upon  the  name  and  the  principles  of  the  organ- 
ization, believing  that  he  was  placing  into  being  a  farmer's  organ- 
ization, the  principles  of  which  if  carried  forward,  as  he  believed 
they  would  be,  would  place  the  American  farmer  in  his  proper 
sphere — make  a  business  man  of  him — he  set  about  to  find  others 
who  would  use  their  time  and  means  in  launching  the  organiza- 
tion. The  first  one  he  approached  on  the  subject  was  J.  B- 
Morris. 

Sitting  on  a  log  by  a  plank  storehouse  in  the  little  town  of 
Point,  Rains  County,  Texas,  Gresham  first  told  Morris  of  the 
great  organization  which  w^as  to  be,  and  asked  Morris  to  join 
him,  which  the  latter  readily  agreed  to  do.  Gresham's  plan  was 
to  enlist  nine  other  farmers  with  him,  thus  forming  a  nucleus  of 
the  organization.  Having  enlisted  Morris  in  the  work,  they  set 
about  to  find  eight  others  who  would  join  them.  This  was  no 
easy  task,  and  required  many  days  of  hard  work  and  much  per- 
suation  to  find  the  eight  who  would  join  them.  While  admitting 
that  it  was  now  time  to  launch  another  farmers'  organization,  it 
was  hard  to  find  farmers  who  would  go  into  a  movement  of  the 
kind,  as  they  thought  it  too  great  an  undertaking.  Finally,  how- 
ever, they  enlisted  the  following : 

T.  W.  Donaldson  and  T.  J.  Pound,  of  Point ;  and  O.  H.  Rhodes, 
Jesse  Adams,  Lee  Seamster,  W.  T.  Cochran,  J.  S.  Turner  and 
"W.  S.  Sisk,  of  Emory,  Texas,  all  of  Rains  County.  They  organ- 
ized with  Lee  Seamster,  President ;  J.  B.  Morris,  Vice-President ; 
O.  TT.   Rhodes,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  and  Newt.  Gresham, 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  197 

Org-anizer.  These  took  out  a  charter  Aug;ust  2,  1902,  from  the 
State  of  Texas,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  in  Texas  and  else- 
where in  the  United  States. 

The  charter  gave  to  the  Board  the  right  to  appoint  organizers, 
not  only  for  Texas,  but  for  other  States,  and  acting  upon  the  pre- 
rogatives conferred  by  this  charter,  organizers  were  sent  into  Ten- 
nessee, Georgia,  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Oklahoma,  Missouri,  and 
Louisiana,  where  good  and  successful  work  was  done. 

The  board  of  trustees,  as  they  came  to  be  called,  had  head- 
quarters at  Emory.  Texas,  from  which  point  the  work  was  pushed 
under  the  leadership  of  Newt.  Gresham,  who  led  the  organizing 
force.  For  fifteen  months,  Gresham  rode  in  the  saddle  calling  the 
farmers  of  Texas  to  action.  His  faith,  his  courage,  his  great 
energy  inspired  confidence  in  others  and  he  was  soon  able  to 
gather  around  him  as  fine  a  set  of  consecrated  workers  as  ever 
went  forth  to  do  battle  for  any  cause. 

The  first  local  Union  was  organized  by  Gresham  at  Smyrna 
School  House,  in  Rains  County,  September  2,  1902,  with  ten  mem- 
bers. W.  S.  Sisk  and  J.  S.  Turner  made  speeches  at  the  time. 
The  second  local  Union  was  organized  by  W,  T.  Cochran  on  Sep- 
tember 3.  Soon  several  locals  were  formed  in  Rains  County, 
and  then  the  wOrk  spread  to  adjoining  counties  quite  rapidly. 
Gresham  enlisted  such  men  as  R.  F.  Duckworth,  who  was  then 
farming  in  Hopkins  County,  Texas,  and  who  shortly  afterwards 
carried  the  work  into  Georgia ;  Dr.  E.  J.  Cook,  of  Titus  County, 
Texas,  who  carried  the  work  into  Alabama ;  J.  S.  Turner  and  R. 
L.  Bertram,  who  carried  the  work  into  Arkansas ;  B.  F.  Earle, 
of  Hunt  County,  who  carried  the  work  into  South  Carolina;  G. 
W.  Burgess,  of  Sabine  County,  who  carried  the  work  into  Missis- 
sippi and  Louisiana. 

One  of  the  chief  reasons  for  the  aggressiveness  of  Texas  in 
pushing  this  work  was  the  lack  of  profit  on  cotton.  Texas,  being 
a  great  empire  within  itself  and  capable  of  producing  an  enormous 
crop  of  cotton  with  little  or  no  fertilizers,  could  make  cotton 
cheaper  than  any  other  State.  But  with  these  cheap  facilities  for 
producing  cotton,  the  cotton  growers  were  annually  losing  money, 
and  when  Newt.  Gresham  called  the  farmers  to  action  and  inau- 
guiated  a  movement  for  better  prices,  Texas  led  the  movement. 
Other  States  into  wiiich  organizers  had  gone  joined  heart  and 
hand  in  the  movement. 

This  lack  of  profit  was  one  of  the  chief  instruments  in  drawing 
into  the  Union  the  cotton  growers  of  this  and  other  States.  True, 
there  was  nothing  that  the  founders  could  point  to  as  an  accom- 


198  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

plished  fact  that  would  lead  the  people  to  believe  that  the  Union 
could  control  the  price  of  cotton,  but  there  was  no  lack  of  con- 
fidence. The  people  of  Texas  had  been  members  of  the  Farmers* 
<  Wheel  and  the  Farmers'  Alliance.  Both  these  organinzations  had 
looked  to  the  increase  in  yield  and  not  to  the  marketing  of  the 
crops.  When  the  organizers  went  about  telHng  the  farmers  that 
they  could  fix  a  just  and  equitable  price  upon  their  cotton  and  by 
mutual  co-operation  obtain  that  price,  few  really  beHeved  it.  So 
strong  was  the  desire  for  some  movement  of  this  kind  that  hun- 
dreds joined  in  the  hope  of  bringing  about  a  better  order  of  things. 

The  Texas  State  Union  was  organized  in  Mineola,  Texas.  The 
convention  was  called  to  order  on  the  morning  of  February  14, 
1904.  O.  P.  Pyle,  then  of  Mineola,  presided  over  the  meeting. 
N.  C.  Murray  was  elected  President;  J-  B.  Morris,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; Newt.  Gresham,  Secretary-Treasurer;  J.  D.  Montgomery, 
General  Organizer;  C.  M.  Compton,  Lecturer;  J.  M.  Mallett, 
Chaplain;  F.  W.  Davis,  Conductor;  and  R.  L.  Templeton,  Door- 
keeper. The  Executive  Committee  was  as  follows:  O.  P.  Pyle, 
Chairman;  A.  M.  Colwick,  Secretary;  John  T.  Garner,  W.  T. 
Loudermilk  and  Virgil  Rodgers.  Newt.  Gresham  and  O.  F. 
Dornblaser  wrote  the  constitution. 

This  constitution,  with  some  modifications  and  amendments,  is 
the  one  now  in  force  in  the  national  government  of  the  Union 
Itie  principles  of  this  constitution  remain  unchanged. 

The  administration  during  the  year  put  forward  the  movement 
for  the  holding  of  one  bale  of  cotton  out  of  five,  and  the  slow 
marketing  of  the  other  four  was  provided  for.  It  is  claimed  that 
this  movement  saved  the  cotton  growers  of  the  South  more  than 
two  hundred  millions  of  dollars.  The  same  administration  secured 
a  1  eduction  of  twenty-five  cents  per  bale  on  each  bale  of  cotton 
shipped  from  common  points  within  the  State  to  Houston  and 
Galveston.  Farmers  of  Texas  by  their  aggressiveness  soon  made 
Texas  the  best  organized  State  in  the  Union.  Later,  a  move- 
ment was  begun  to  secure  ten  cents  for  cotton.  When  the  price 
of  cotton  dropped  so  low  early  in  November,  1904,  the  committee 
met  in  Greenville  and  decided  to  institute  an  effective  cotton  hold- 
ing movement,  naming  as  the  minimum  price  ten  cents  per  pound. 
In  one  night  the  committee  spent  fifty  dollars  in  telegraphing  to 
prominent  farmers,  to  governors,  to  senators  and  others  in  the 
cotton  States,  asking  that  a  meeting  be  held  on  November  17th,  in 
all  the  counties  of  the  South  for  the  purpose  of  asking  the  farmers 
to  withhold  their  cotton  from  tlie  market.  Meetings  were  held 
and  cotton  sold  for  ten  cents  a  pound  the  following  July. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  199 


STATE    IIEADOUARTERS    MOV^ED. 


A  short  time  after  the  meeting  in  Mineola,  in  February,  the 
headquarters  of  the  general  office  was  moved  from  Emory  to 
Point.  A  few  months  later  the  office  was  moved  to  Greenville, 
and  from  Greenville  to  Dallas,  and  has  since  been  moved  from 
Dallas  to  Fort  Worth. 

On  April  2,  after  the  first  State  meeting,  the  executive  com- 
mittee met  in  Mineola,  and  provided  for  a  business  department. 
John  T.  Garner  was  put  in  charge  of  this  department.  In  the 
fall  of  1904,  the  executive  committee  created  a  fruit  and  truck 
department  with  John  R.  Rector  in  charge.  The  committee  at 
the  same  time  established  a  cotton  department  with  F.  W.  Davis 
in  charge. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  committee  in  Greenville,  June  4,  1904,  A. 
P.  Landers,  of  Sulphur  Springs,  was  elected  to  visit  the  cotton 
mills  in  the  various  parts  of  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of 
studying  the  conditions  looking  to.  direct  trade  with  the  mills.  At 
this  meeting  President  N.  C.  Murray  presented  to  the  committee 
his  plan  to  withhold  from  the  market  one  bale  in  five,  which  was 
adopted  and  which  was  the  beginning  of  the  cotton-holding  move- 
ment. 

A  call  meeting  of  the  Texas  State  Union  was  held  in  Fort 
Worth  in  August,  1904.  This  meeting  was  for  the  purpose  of 
devising  ways  and  means  by  which  the  Union  was  to  be  brought  to 
a  higher  state  of  perfection.  The  legislative  committee,  which 
had  been  appointed  at  the  time  of  organizing,  was  given  instruc- 
tions as  to  the  kind  of  legislation  they  were  expected  to  secure, 
and  several  bills  were  passed  by  the  State  legislature  in  response 
to  the  request  of  this  committee. 

STATE   MEETING. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  State  Union  was  held  in  Fort  Worth, 
February  14-16,  1905.  President  N.  C.  Murray  was  not  present 
owing  to  sickness.  E.  A.  Calvin  presided  over  the  session.  Dur- 
ing the  year  the  work  of  organizing  had  been  pushed  in  Alabama, 
Arkansas,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Louisiana, 
Mississippi,  Missouri,  Tennessee,  Indian  Territory  and  Oklahoma. 
The  number  of  local  Unions  in  the  State  of  Texas  had  increased 
from  eleven  hundred  to  nearly  three  thousand  and  the  member- 
ship from  thirty-five  thousand  to  about  one  hundred  thousand. 

The  work  this  vear  was  carried  on  under  the  Texas  State  L'''nion 


200 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AXD   TIMES 


ATTORNEYS    AND    I'UOMINENT    WOKKKRS,    GKOUGIA    DIVISION. 

1.   C.  T.  Ladsox,  General  Counsol  National  Union. 
2.  J.  A.  DuAKi:.  Stnto  Counsol.  3.   G.  M.  Davis,  Ex-State  I-ccturer. 

4.  John   I.   Fui-lwood,  Promoter  Cotton  Certificate. 

5.  G.  F.  IIxJNNict;TT,  Director  Carmlcal  Implement  Company. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  201 

by  right  of  a  franchise  purchased  from  the  original  ten,  who  held 
the  franchise  by  virtue  of  the  original  charter. 

At  this  convention  it  was  suggested  that  a  National  Union  be 
organized,  so  that  all  the  States  and  Territories  could  have  a  voice 
in  the  government  of  the  order.  As  it  then  was,  Texas  had  one 
constitution  and  the  States  and  Territories  another.  This  condi- 
tion of  affairs  did  not  seem  to  be  best,  and  hence  the  suggestion 
to  call  a  National  meeting,  in  which  all  the  other  States  were  to 
be  represented  on  equal  footing  with  Texas. 

The  report  of  Newt  Gresham,  General  Secretary,  showed  the 
number  of  Unions  to  be:  Texas,  2,926;  Indian  Territory,  524; 
Oklahomia  Territory,  135;  Louisiana,  238;  Georgia,  114;  Missouri, 
23;  Tennessee,  23;  Mississippi,  24;  South  Carolina,  16;  North 
Carolina,  2;  Alabama,  58;  and  Kentucky,  i.  The  total  number 
of  local  Unions  in  the  United  States  was  4,264,  with  a  member- 
ship of  147,115. 

The  constitution  included  in  the  list  of  things  upon  which  the 
membership  needed  assistance,  the  subject  of  fruit  culture,  truck 
growing,  bee  keeping,  live  stock,  diversification  and  poultry  raising. 
The  executive  committee  had  previously  established  many  of  these 
and  the  clauses  added  to  the  constitution  by  this  convention  was  a 
recognition  of  the  rights  of  the  executive  committee  to  establish 
co-operative  enterprises. 

N.  C.  Murray  was  re-elected  President ;  E.  A.  Calvin,  Vice- 
President.  Newt.  Gresham  was  re-elected  Secretary  and  J.  D. 
Montgomery  General  Organizer.  W.  A.  Shaw,  of  Dallas,  and 
W.  D.  Lewis,  of  Corn  Hill,  were  elected  members  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  in  place  of  John  T.  Garner  and  Virgil  Rodgers. 
The  time  of  the  regular  meeting  was  changed  from  February 
to  August. 

WACO    MEETING. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  State  Union  was  held  in  Waco,  in 
August,  1905.  Before  this  meeting  there  had  been  some  dissatis- 
faction and  it  resulted  in  a  State  meeting  that  was  a  little  stormv. 
However,  the  steam-roller  subdued  the  storm  and  E.  A.  Calvin 
was  elected  President ;  J.  A.  Wheeler,  Vice-President ;  B.  F.  Chap- 
man, Secretary-Treasurer ;  D.  J.  Neill,  Lecturer,  and  J.  D.  Mont- 
gomery, Organizer.  An  executive  committee  was  elected  as  fol- 
lows:  F.  W.  Davis,  J.  R.  Luce,  M.  A.  Clifton,  G.  M.  Garner 
and  J.  D.  Jamison 

In  accordance  with  the  suggestion  made  at  Fort  Worth,  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  of  the  State  of  Texas  had  called  a  meeting  of 


202  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

delegates  from  all  States  and  Territories,  where  the  Union  had 
been  organized,  to  meet  at  Texarkana,  on  September  23,  1905,  for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  a  National  Union.  On  account  of 
vellow  fever,  the  meeting  at  Texarkana  had  to  be  postponed  until 
December  5,  1905.  The  Waco  convention  elected  delegates  to  the 
Texarkana  meeting  to  be  held  in  December. 

DALLAS   MEETING. 

The  next  regular  meeting  was  held  in  August,  1906,  in  Dallas. 
E.  A.  Calvin  was  re-elected  President  and  Miss  ISFellie  Horton 
Vv-as  elected  Treasurer,  being  the  first  and  only  woman  ever  elected 
by  a  State  organization  to  this  position.  D.  J.  Neill  was  elected 
Lecturer  and  B.  F.  Chapman,  Secretary.  The  executive  com- 
mittee elected  at  this  meeting  was  composed  of  F.  W.  Davis,  J.  R. 
Luce,  Peter  Radford,  J.  E.  Bond  and  W.  T.  Loudermilk. 

FORT  WORTH   MEETING. 

The  next  convention  met  in  Fort  Worth,  Texas,  August,  1907. 
This  convention  was  characterized  by  a  fraternal  feeling,  and  was 
noted  for  the  harmony  displayed.  The  convention  gave  considera- 
ble time  to  the  business  side  of  the  organization.  The  warehouse 
question  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  before  this  convention. 
The  State  President,  in  a  very  strong  address,  outlined  plans  for 
the  future  progress  of  warehouse  building  in  Texas.     He  said : 

''Such  will  be,  the  cotton  warehousing  system  towards  which 
we,  the  cotton  producers  of  America,  are  inevitably  and  swiftly 
being  drifted  by  the  current  of  events,  which  it  is  today  our  duty 
to  control  and  direct.  As  we  progress  in  our  work  of  controlling 
this  current  of  events  by  building  a  warehouse  in  each  community, 
the  units  of  this  future  system  are  being  created.  Each  ware- 
house may  be  operated  separately  and  apart  from  all  others,  and 
much  good  results ;  but  as  surely  as  men,  the  units  of  armies,  co- 
operate for  national  aggression  and  defense,  these  isolated  ware- 
houses must  as  units  of  a  great  system  co-operate  for  mutual  ag- 
gression and  defense.  Individual  soldiers,  however  patriotic  and 
courageous,  acting  singly  and  alone,  would  be  comparatively  of 
small  service  to  their  country ;  the  same  soldiers,  each  co-operating 
with  his  fellows,  confident  of  united  action,  would  exert  over- 
whelmingly increased  efficiency.  The  warehouse  of  the  future 
will  be  the  local  center  about  which  all  local  cotton  action  and 
local  cotton  information  will  concentrate.  Likewise  it  will  be  the 
local  center  from  which  all  non-local  action  and  non-local  informa- 
tion will  radiate.  No  other  agency  better  adapted  to  such  ends 
could  be  devised. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  203 

Much  has  been  said  in  a  general  way  of  the  good  to  result  from 
holding  cotton  for  fair  prices  and  of  the  good  to  result  from  direct 
marketing  to  the  spinner.  We  all  agree  that  good  must  result 
from  this  sure  evolution,  now  taking  almost  the  form  of  revolu- 
tion. The  warehouse  is  our  reliance ;  yet  we  know  a  mere  build- 
ing cannot  bring  about  affirmative  results,  nor  can  men  operating 
isolated  warehouses  hold  cotton  as  intelligently  as  if  acting  in  con- 
cert with  all  other  warehouses.  Out  of  the  present  business  chaos 
a  system  will  be  evolved ;  if  we  should  attempt  to  prevent  it,  we 
should  fail.  Some  system,  good  or  bad,  is  sure  to  come.  It  is 
our  duty  to  so  direct  our  activities  that  the  future  system  will  be 
for  our  good  and  that  of  the  user  of  our  cotton.  The  system  must 
reach  every  cotton  growing  neighborhood,  yet  be  centralized  in 
some  intelligent  power,  so  guarded  as  to  be  of  and  for  and  by  the 
people.  We  have  seen  that  every  neighborhood  may  be  reached 
by  the  local  warehouse,  constituting  the  units  of  the  system.  The 
present  rate  of  warehouse  building  will  soon  supply  these  units." 

Texas  early  began  the  agitation  of  Union  warehouses  that  may 
be  owned  and  operated  by  Union  members  in  the  State. 

In  the  election  of  ofificers  to  serve  for  the  next  year,  D.  J.  Neill 
was  elected  President ;  J.  P.  Lane,  Vice-President ;  C.  Smith,  Sec- 
retary-Treasurer and  B.  F.  Chapman,  Lecturer.  W.  T.  Louder- 
milk,  Peter  Radford,  J.  E.  Montgomery,  J.  C.  Albritton  and  H. 
Laas  were  elected  members  of  the  executive  committee. 

The  1908  convention  met  in  the  city  of  Fort  Worth,  in  August. 
This  convention  was  characterized  by  harmony  and  good  will. 
The  membership  of  Texas  was  loyally  supporting  a  majority  of 
the  plans  outlined  by  the  various  conventions  and  adopted  as  a 
part  of  the  policies  of  the  State  Union. 

In  the  election  of  officers  D.  J.  Neill,  of  Fort  Worth,  was  re- 
elected President;  J.  P.  Lane,  of  Gallatin,  Vice-President;  C. 
Smith,  of  Fort  Worth,  Secretary-Treasurer  ;  Joe  E.  Edmonson,  of 
Fort  Worth,  Organizer ;  J.  W.  Smith,  of  Belton,  Chaplain ;  J.  E. 
Been,  of  Burleson,  Conductor,  and  W.  W.  Scott,  of  Dodd  City, 
Doorkeeper.  An  executive  committee  composed  of  J.  E.  Mont- 
gomery, Skidmore  ;  J.  C.  Albritton,  Snyder ;  H.  Laas,  Brookshire ; 
J.  L.  McConkey,  Wichita  Falls,  and  J.  A.  Wheeler,  Moody,  were 
elected. 

OKLAHOMA. 

The  Union  was  early  planted  in  the  Territories  of  Oklahoma 
and  the  Indian  Territory.  Here  in  this  new  section  the  work 
spread  rapidly.  At  the  time  of  the  Texas  State  meeting  at  Fort 
Worth,  February,  1905,  there  were  839  local  Unions  in  Oklahoma 


204  MISSIOTS^,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

and  the  Indian  Territory,  with  a  total  membership  of  29,365. 
Neither  of  these  Territories  had  been  organized  into  State  Union 
divisions  when  the  Fort  Worth  convention  met.  Delegates  were 
present  at  Fort  Worth  and  asked  for  the  privilege  of  being 
organized  into  a  State  Union.  This  was  done  during  the  year, 
the  Territories  being  organized  under  the  general  name  of  India- 
homa.  S.  O.  Daws,  who  had  been  prominent  in  Alliance  days 
and  a  leader  in  the  territorial  work  of  the  Union,  was  elected 
first  President  of  the  new  State  Union. 

The  Union  in  Oklahoma  and  the  Indian  Territory  was  known 
by  the  general  name  of  Indiahoma,  and  continued  to  be  known  as 
such  for  sometime,  but  the  question  of  admitting  the  Territories 
into  the  Union  by  Congress,  was  a  live  one  and  created  much  dis- 
cussion and  considerable  strife.  Some  wanted  two  States  and 
some  wanted  one.  Congress  finally  settled  the  disputed  question 
by  admitting  both  Oklahoma  and  the  Indian  Territory  as  one 
State.  It  was  while  this  discussion  was  going  on  that  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  divided  and  the  Indian  Territory  Union  was  formed. 
S.  O.  Daws  was  President  of  the  Indiahoma  Union  when  this 
division  took  place. 

The  State  Union  was  organized  shortly  after  the  adjournment 
of  the  Texas  convention  held  at  Fort  Worth,  and  S.  O.  Daws, 
who  had  been  a  persistant  worker  in  the  Union  movement,  was 
elected  President  of  the  Indiahoma  State  Union. 

The  first  meeting  after  organizing  the  Indiahoma  Union,  was 
held  at  Tishomingo,  Indian  Territory,  July  18-21,  1905.  There 
were  109  delegates  in  attendance  upon  this  convention  besides 
many  visitors.  Statistics,  the  farmers'  label  on  all  goods  produced 
by  Union  members,  legislation,  arbitration  and  education  were 
some  of  the  things  discussed  by  this  convention. 

The  following  officers  were  elected :  S.  O.  Daws,  President ; 
J.  P.  Conners,  Vice-President ;  J.  S.  Moore,  Secretary-Treasurer ; 
Green  B.  Patterson,  Business  Agent ;  A.  J.  Carter,  Organizer ;  P. 
C.  Estes,  Chaplain ;  J.  H.  Keltner,  Conductor  and  D.  A.  Nix, 
Doorkeeper.  The  executive  committee  was  composed  of  A.  F. 
Ross,  W.  H.  Lancaster,  R.  J.  Ward,  Campl)cll  Russell,  and  J.  W. 
Harrison. 

The  next  convention  was  held  at  Shawnee,  August  21-25,  1906. 
J.  A.  West  was  elected  President;  E.  E.  Duffey,  Vice-President; 
B.  C.  Hanson,  Secretary-Treasurer ;  C.  C.  Lee,  Chaplain ;  C.  E. 
Sullivan,  Conductor ;  J.  D.  Irvin,  Doorkeeper  and  J .  W,  Houchin, 
W.  J.  Clark,  M.  B.  Brown,  O.  H.  Mathews  and  J.  A.  Parkinson 
were  elected  members  of  the  executive  committee. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  205 

The  convention  of  1907  was  held  at  Shawnee,  August  22-23. 
Upon  the  subject  of  warehouses,  President  West,  in  his  annual 
address  before  the  convention,  said :  "Perhaps  no  feature  of  in- 
dustrial organization  has  been  so  exhaustively  discussed  as  that 
of  co-operative  warehouses.  The  primary  principles  of  the  Union 
of  farmers  was  the  control  of  the  markets.  The  objects  to  be  at- 
tained were  profitable  prices  and  stable  markets.  Our  markets 
have  been  completely  in  the  hands  of  cotton  exchanges,  institu- 
tions which  have  manipulated  our  markets  up  and  down,  regard- 
less of  supply  and  demand.  These  institutions  have  destroyed  the 
stability  of  the  markets  for  all  farm  products,  impoverished  the 
farmer  and  jeopardized  the  business  interests  of  the  entire 
country. 

"We  have  adopted  definite  plans  in  the  hope  of  destroying 
the  mighty  and  tyrannical  power  of  the  Cotton  Exchange.  Be- 
ginning with  the  plan  of  locally  bulking,  which  was  soon  followed 
by  holding  one-fourth  or  one-fifth  of  the  cotton  crop,  and  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  minimum  price ;  but  by  this  means  you  remember 
we  succeeded  in  securing  only  partial  co-operation.  But  through 
the  warehouse  system  we  can  revolutionize  the  present  system  and 
enthrone  the  farmer  as  absolute  master  in  fixing  the  price  upon  his 
own  products.  The  warehouse  is  now  recognized  as  an  indispens- 
ible  addenda  in  stable  and  profitable  marketing.  We  have  already 
in  co-operation  in  the  two  territories  quite  a  number,  and  reports 
from  all  over  the  State  indicate  that  the  first  season's  operation 
has  been  quite  a  success.  I  do  not  know  how  many  have  been 
built,  or  how  many  are  nov/  under  construction,  but  the  Farmers' 
Union  in  greater  Oklahoma  should  have  warehouse  storage  for  at 
least  one-fourth  of  her  cotton  production.  I  want  to  impress  upon 
this  convention  the  great,  and,  as  I  see  it,  paramount,  importance 
of  constructing  warehouses,  at  least  in  every  central  cotton  market 
in  every  county  in  the  State.  Do  not  let  us  falter,  but  let  us  push 
the  work  until  we  have  acomplished  all  we  started  out  to  do." 

The  election  of  officers  to  serve  for  the  ensuing  year  resulted  as 
follows :  J.  A.  West,  President ;  J.  P.  Connors,  Vice-President ; 
J.  S.  Murray,  Secretary-Treasurer ;  E.  A.  Griffin,  of  Crescent,  Or- 
ganizer ;  C.  C.  Lee,  Chaplain  ;  J.  W.  Scott,  Doorkeepr,  and  Thomas 
Roach,  Conductor.  The  Executive  Committee  elected  at  this  meet- 
ing was  J.  Y.  Callahan,  M.  B.  Brown,  W.  G.  Vandiver,  O.  H.  Mat- 
thews and  T.  M.  Jeffords. 

The  convention  of  1908  was  held  at  Shawnee,  August  18-22. 
The  Indiahoma  and  the  Indian  Territory  Unions  had  been  organ- 
ized the  year  before  into  the  Oklahoma  State  Union,  and  the  bit- 


206  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

terness  and  strife  that  had  existed  between  the  membership  of  the 
two  rival  State  Unions  was  allaye'd. 

William  Garrison  was  elected  President;  F.  R.  Smith,  Vice- 
President  ;  C.  E.  Hook,  Secretary-Treasurer ;  W.  J.  Hill,  Chaplain ; 
W.  J.  Crawford,  Organizer;  Mr.  Scott,  Doorkeeper;  Tom  Roach, 
Conductor,  and  W.  F.  Belden.  E.  M.  Smoot,  B.  F.  Douglas,  W. 
H.  A.  Harrison,  and  Henr}^  Pebworth,  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee 

Oklahoma  has  been  through  the  fire  often,  but  now  bids  fair 
to  make  great  headway  in  Union  affairs.  The  reorganization  of  the 
two  territorial  sections  into  one  Union  has  eliminated  much  of  the 
bitterness  that  existed  in  former  times  in  the  organization. 

INDIAN    TERRITORY    UNION. 

The  Indian  Territory  Union  W"as  organized  as  a  separate  division 
in  1906  and  continued  for  about  a  year  in  the  capacity  of  a  State 
Union.  A.  J.  Malcolm  was  President  of  this  Union  and  J.  S, 
Murray  Secretary-Treasurer.  When  in  1907  Indiahoma  and  the 
Indian  Territory  w^ere  again  merged  into  one  organization,  the  two 
State  Unions  w^ere  rechartered  under  one  name — Oklahoma.  A 
new  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted  for  the  government  of 
the  new  State  organization.  J,  A.  West,  formerly  President  of 
the  Indiahoma  Union,  was  elected  President  of  the  new  State 
organization,  and  J.  S.  Murray,  who  was  Secretary  of  the  Indian 
Territory  Union,  was  elected  Secretary  of  Oklahoma,  thus  making 
the  Union  complete. 

ARKANSAS. 

The  first  local  Union  in  Arkansas  was  organized  by  J.  K. 
Huffman  at  Spring  Hill,  September  30,  1903.  W.  T.  Bowden 
was  elected  President  of  this  local,  and  J.  C.  Huckabee,  Secretary- 
Treasurer.  At  first  the  local  Unions  of  Arkansas  were  under 
the  control  and  direction  of  the  original  Board  of  Ten  and  con- 
tinued under  their  control  up  to  the  time  when  the  franchise  was 
sold  to  the  Texas  State  Union,  From  this  time  till  the  Texarkana 
meeting,  1905,  Arkansas  was  governed  by  the  Texas  State  Union. 

J.  S.  Turner,  one  of  the  original  ten,  w^as  the  first  State  Organ- 
izer of  Arkansas.  His  headquarters  were  at  Hope,  in  Hempstead 
County,  near  where  the  first  local  Union  was  organized.  Acting 
upon  the  call  of  Turner,  delegates  from  many  counties  met  at 
Hot  Springs,  April  27-28,  1905,  and  organized  the  State  Union. 
J.  T.  Batton,  of  Tuckerman,  was  elected  President;  C.  M.  Nor- 
wood, of  Stamps,  Vice-president;  Ben  L.  Grifiin,  of  Nashville, 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  207 

Secretary-Treasurer;  G.  I.  Van  Dike,  of  Magness,  Doorkeeper; 
J.  A.  Blackford,  of  Jonesboro,  Conductor ;  W.  B.  Mason,  of  Guy, 
Chaplain.  The  Executive  Committeemen  were  J.  N.  Bulger,  of 
Hope ;  J.  D.  Oliphant,  of  Agnes ;  J.  M.  Glass,  of  Swifton ;  N.  C. 
Milner,  of  McNeil,  and  L.  A.  Reece,  of  Shover  Springs.  This 
convention  fixed  the  time  for  the  holding  of  subsequent  conven- 
tions which  were  to  be  held  on  the  first  Tuesdays  in  August. 
The  report  of  the  delegates  at  this  convention  showed  Union 
matters  in  Arkansas  to  be  in  a  healthy  condition.  There  was 
no  end  of  enthusiasm  manifested,  and  this  wave  of  enthusiasm 
diflfused  itself  over  the  state  after  the  adjournment  of  the  con- 
vention. The  Secretray-Treasurer's  office  was  moved  to  Conway, 
being  more  nearly  the  center  of  the  state. 

The  first  regular  annual  meeting  of  the  State  Union  after  being 
organized,  met  in  Little  Rock,  August  1-4,  1905.  There  were 
present  152  delegates,  representing  57  counties.  The  report  of 
the  Secretary-Treasurer  showed  that  there  had  been  thirteen  hun- 
dred and  thirty-eight  local  Unions  chartered  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  first  local,  September  30,  1903,  and  that  fifty-two 
charters  had  been  issued  to  County  Unions.  As  a  mark  of  appre- 
ciation for  the  thorough  manner  in  which  they  had  conducted 
the  afifairs  of  their  respective  offices,  the  Union  re-elected  Presi- 
dent Batton  and  Secretary-Treasurer  Griffin.  Other  officers 
elected  were  A.  B.  Walker,  of  Nixon,  Vice-President;  J.  W. 
Comer,  Chaplain ;  John  H.  Keith,  Doorkeeper ;  J.  A.  Blackford, 
of  Jonesboro,  Conductor.  R.  H.  McCulloch,  A.  R.  Austin,  J.  C. 
Palmer,  O.  P.  Nixon,  and  L.  A.  Reece,  were  elected  members 
of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Owing  to  ill  health  which  kept  him  from  discharging  the  duties 
of  his  office.  President  Batton  resigned  on  February  17,  1906; 
H.  B.  Walker,  Vice-President,  also  resigned  on  the  same  date. 
The  Executive  Committee  elected  D.  P.  Tunstall,  of  Salem,  to 
succeed  Batton,  and  J.  C.  Griswood  to  succeed  Walker. 

The  second  annual  convention  met  in  Litlle  Rock,  August  7, 
1906.  Vice-President  Griswood  was  absent  and  S.  M.  Blaylock 
was  appointed  in  his  stead.  Sixty-seven  counties  were  repre- 
sented by  delegates  in  this  second  convention.  The  report  of 
the  Executive  Committee  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  previous 
to  the  time  of  the  first  state  organization  that  there  had  been  four 
organizing  districts  with  a  supervisor  for  each;  that  under  this 
arrangement  there  had  been  unprecedented  growth,  and  now  after 
the  expiration  of  a  year  they  felt  that  it  would  be  wise  to  divide 
the  state  into  two  lecture  districts.    The  reason  thev  sfave  for  this 


208  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

recommendation  was  that  there  was  a  demand   for  information 
that  could  be  given  in  no  other  way. 

A  grave  problem  confronting  the  convention  was  the  question 
of  organizing  the  negro.  Some  of  the  organizers  had  been  or- 
ganizing bodies  of  the  Colored  Progressive  Farmers'  Union. 
This  was  deemed  a  reflection  upon  the  good  name  of  the  Union 
and  the  commission  of  organizers,  who  had  thus  organized  negro 
Unions,  was  revoked.  During  the  year,  the  National  Board  of 
Directors  borrowed  a  thousand  dollars  at  six  per  cent  interest 
from  the  Arkansas  Executive  Committee.  This  note  was  secured 
by  the  endorsement  of  O.  P.  Pyle,  W.  S.  Miller,  Campbell  Rus- 
sell, E,  J.  Cook,  I.  N.  McColhster,  and  Charles  S.  Barrett. 

J.  B.  Lewis,  of  Jonesboro,  was  elected  President;  J.  T.  M. 
Holt,  Vice-President ;  Ben  L.  Griffin,  Secretary-Treasurer ;  J.  E. 
Armstrong,  Chaplain;  John  A.  Blackford,  Conductor ;  John  H. 
Keith,  Doorkeeper.  R.  H.  McCulloch,  A.  R.  Austin,  O.  P. 
Nixon,  J.  C.  Palmer,  and  A.  J.  Craig,  composed  the  Executive 
Committee;  James  I.  Ellis  was  appointed  State  Business  Agent, 
and  J.  W.  Librand,  J.  H.  Roten,  and  J.  B.  Doyle  were  elected 
members  of  the  legislative  committee. 

The  third  convention  was  held  in  Conway,  August  6,  7,  8, 
1907,  The  year  passed  had  been  a  prosperous  one  and  harmony 
prevailed  throughout  the  state.  The  President  in  his  address 
complimented  the  Union  upon  the  few  complaints  which  had 
come  into  his  office.  The  Union,  had  some  trouble  with  outsiders, 
particularly  with  political  schemers. 

The  convention  went  on  record  as  opposed  to  working  convicts 
in  the  production  of  cotton,  which  came  into  competition  with 
free  labor.  From  the  Secretary's  report  the  increase  in  Local 
Unions  for  the  year  was  718,  giving  Arkansas  a  total  number 
of  2,540 ;  14,000  new  members  had  been  added  during  the  year, 
bringing  the  total  membership  up  to  78,085. 

J.  B.  Lewis  was  re-elected  President  and  Ben  L.  Griffin,  was 
re-elected  Secretary-Treasurer.  Other  officers  elected  were:  W. 
T.  Ham,  of  Van  Buren,  Vice-President;  W.  W.  Reed,  of  Poca- 
hontas, Chaplain ;  J.  P.  Murray,  Conductor ;  John  F.  McCuiston, 
of  Elmo,  Doorkeeper.  All  members  of  the  Executive  Committee 
were  re-elected  except  O.  P.  Nixon,  who  was  succeeded  by  J. 
D.  Hoyle.  W,  A.  Cole,  of  Alma,  was  appointed  State  Business 
Agent  and  established  his  headquarters  at  Little  Rock.  R.  H. 
McColloch,  National  Secretary,  was  elected  Chairman  of  the 
State  Executive  Committee. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  209 

The  fourth  state  meeting-  of  the  Arkansas  State  Union  was 
held  in  the  city  of  Little  Rock,  August  4,  5,  6,  7,  1908.  Things 
had  not  been  so  harmonious  in  the  State  during  the  year,  politics, 
unfortunately,  had  played  its  part  in  breeding  trouble. 

The  report  of  Secretary-Treasurer  Griffin  showed  a  balance 
on  hand  in  the  treasury  of  $3,510.32,  after  all  expenses  for  the 
current  year  had  been  met.  The  cost  of  maintaining  lectures, 
which  had  been  considerable,  and  the  expenses  of  a  cotton  school 
were  additional  drafts  upon  the  treasury  that  it  had  nrjt  been 
called  upon  to  meet  the  year  before. 

John  Bowers.  Sr.,  of  Lonoke  County,  was  elected  President ; 
John  N.  Jones,  of  Pocahontas,  Vice-President ;  M.  F.  Dickinson, 
of  Green  County,  Secretary-Treasurer ;  W.  A.  Lewis,  of  Lonoke 
County,  Chaplain  ;  John  F.  McCuiston,  Doorkeeper ;  and  L.  F. 
Martin,  Conductor.'  L.  M.  Rurg,  W.  W.  Brodnax,  W.  D.  Wal- 
ker, J.  E.  Rogers,  and  R.  H.  McCulloch  were  elected  members 
of  the  Executive  Committee.  J.  E.  Rogers  and  R.  H.  McCulloch 
were  formerly  members  of  this  committee  and  were  re-elected. 
John  Bowers,  Sr.,  and  M.  F.  Dickinson  were  elected  delegates 
at  large  to  the  National  Convention ;  John  A.  Blackford  was 
elected  from  the  first  district ;  G.  A.  Billingsly  from  the  second 
district ;  Miss  M.  M.  Merritt  from  the  third  district ;  W.  L  Beck 
from  the  fourth  district ;  A.  A.  Scott  from  the  fifth  district ;  W. 
C.  Henderson  from  the  sixth  district,  and  W.  F.  Tate  from  the 
seventh  district. 

The  question  of  the  negro  Union  was  up  for  discussion,  and 
a  special  committee  was  appointed  to  make  recommendations. 
These  recommendations  were  in  the  form  of  a  resolution  as  fol- 
lows : 

"Whereas,  it  is  desirable  that  the  F.  E.  &  C.  U.  of  A.  should 
control  as  large  a  per  cent,  of  the  cotton  crop  as  possible  through 
the  warehouses,  to  the  end  that  it  may  be  kept  off  the  market 
until  we  can  get  a  satisfactory  price ;  and  whereas,  the  Colored 
Fanners'  Progressive  and  Educational  Union  of  America  have 
asked  this  body  to  submit  some  plan  by  which  thev  might  co- 
operate with  us  in  the  matter  of  marketing  cotton ;  therefore. 

"Be  it  resolved  by  the  State  L'nion  of  Arkansas,  That  we  in- 
vite them  to  bring  all  the  cotton  they  can  control  to  be  weighed, 
handled  and  marketed,  just  as  we  do  that  of  our  own  members, 
guaranteeing  them  fair  and  just  treatment;  giving  them  the  ad- 
vantages of  any  plans  we  may  devise  for  the  financing  of  dis- 
tressed cotton,  and  aiding  them  in  procuring  monev  on  same, 
in  case  conditions  demand  it.  ui)on  the  same  conditions  at  others." 
14 


210  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


CHAPTER  XX. 


STATE  ORGANIZATION— LOUISIANA,  GEORGIA,  ALABAMA. 

LOUISIANA. 

THE  first  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  the  State 
of  Louisiana  was  at  Smyrna,  in  De  Soto  Parish.  This 
local  was  organized  by  I.  J.  Burgess,  January  19,  1903. 
Eighteen  members  joined  at  the  time.  J.  H.  Franklin,  of  De 
Soto  Parish,  was  elected  President  of  this  local  Union,  and  J.  J. 
Poag,  Secretary.  Grand  Cane,  in  De  Soto  Parish,  soon  became 
the  center  of  activity  in  the  work  of  organizing  the  Farmers' 
Union,  and  the  influence  set  to  work  in  this  center  reached  out 
and  affected  other  sections. 

Almost  from  the  day  when  the  Union  was  introduced  into 
Louisiana  the  work  became  prominent,  and  such  men  as  J.  W. 
Boyett,  Jr.,  L.  N.  Holmes,  and  J.  E.  Bullard,  became  prominently 
identified  with  the  movement,  and  by  their  aid  and  assistance 
helped  to  make  the  Union  a  success  in  their  state.  The  order 
grew  very  rapidly  in  the  different  parishes  throughout  Louisiana. 
Organizers  went  into  every  nook  and  corner  of  the  state,  calling 
the  farmers  to  action  in  behalf  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 

April  4,  1905,  delegates  met  and  formed  the  first  State  Union. 
L.  N.  Holmes  was  the  first  State  President ;  J.  E.  Bullard,  first  Vice- 
President ;  J.  W.  Boyett,  Jr.,  first  Secretary-Treasurer;  J.  A. 
Ambrose,  Chaplain ;  Thomas  McCain,  Doorkeeper ;  A.  B.  Cole, 
Conductor.  L.  N.  Holmes  served  two  years  as  President,  having 
been  re-elected  at  the  second  convention.  J.  W.  Boyett,  Jr., 
served  three  years  as  Secretary-Treasurer. 

At  the  third  convention  J.  E.  Bullard  was  elected  President, 
and  C.  T.  Baird  Vice-President.  During  this  year  considerable 
progress  was  made  and  many  new  Unions  were  organized.  The 
membership  of  the  Union  made  persistent  demands  for  the 
minimum  price  of  cotton,  and  by  their  aid  rendered  valuable 
assistance  in  their  efforts  to  secure  the  same.,    , 

The  convention  which  met  in  1908  re-elected  J.  E.  Bullard 
President,  and  elected  J.  N.  DeLoach  Secretary-Treasurer. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  211 

The  present  state  officers  are:  J.  E.  Bullard,  President;  R.  Lee 
Mills,  Opelousa,  X'ice-President ;  J.  N.  De  Loach,  Winnfield, 
Secretary-Treasurer;  J.  A.  Ambrose,  Ruston,  Chaplain;  J.  W. 
Boyett,  Jr.,  Winfield,  State  Lecturer;  S.  B.  David,  Baton  Rouge, 
Conductor,  and  George  W.  Smith  Doorkeeper. 

'J'he  Union  in  Louisiana  has  caught  the  attention  of  the  gover- 
nor and  others  in  high  official  positions,  and  they  are  offering  to 
lend  every  assistance  possible  to  aid  the  farmers  in  main- 
taining profitable  prices  for  their  farm  produce.  Recently, 
at  New  Orleans,  Governor  Sanders  made  a  proposition  to 
appropriate  money  from  the  State  Treasury,  by  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  legislature,  for  the  building  of  a  mammoth 
warehouse  in  New  Orleans.  This  warehouse  when  built 
will  be  largelv  in  the  hands  of  the  Faru'icrs'  Union  and 
practically  under  their  control.  New  Orleans  and  Memphis  each 
will  have  giant  warehouses,  over  which  the  Union  exercises  con- 
trolling influences. 

Each  succeeding  state  convention  in  Louisiana  has  moved  a 
miile  farther  on  in  the  onward  march  of  progress  in  LTnion 
matters  in  the  state.  Year  by  year  a  better  hold  has  been  obtained 
upon  the  farmers,  and  a  fuller  contr<^-So£ -^matters  has  been  the 
result.  Louisiana  is  now  one  of  thgfleading  states  and  by  the  aid 
and  asistance  of  the  officers  and  members,  will  be  at  no  distant 
day  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  L^nited  States. 

At  the  convention  held  at  Baton  Rouge.  July  31,  1906,  the 
warehouse  question  was  a  live  one  in  which  a  majority  of  the 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  delegates  representing  thirty-five 
parishes  took  active  part.  The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Farmers' 
L^nion  of  the  Central  Warehouse  Company,  consisting  of  A.  P. 
Collins,  N.  A.  Culberson,  R.  B.  Kennedy,  and  J.  W.  Boyett,  Jr., 
reported  that  they  had  organized  a  central  company  capitalized 
at  $25,000,  and  had  built  at  Winnfield  an  iron  sheeted  warehouse  lOo 
by  150  feet.  The  stock  of  this  warehouse,  as  shown  by  the  1907 
report,  was  held  by  the  membership  in  eighteen  parishes  of  the 
State. 

The  state  convention  of  1908,  which  met  in  \\'innfield,  July  29, 
found  the  Union  in  good  working  shape  tliroughout  the  various 
parishes.  The  Executive  Committee  found  the  people  clamoring 
for  lecturers  in  every  section  of  the  state.  This  clamor  grew 
out  of  a  desire  for  information  about  L^nion  matters.  The  subject 
of  crop  diversification  received  considerable  attention  at  this  con- 
vention, and  each  l(X\'il  Unic^n  was  m-ged  to  take  up  the  matter 


212 


MISSION,    HISTORY   AND  TIMES 


STATIO    (ll-l-'K'IALS,    ALAHAMA     DIVISION. 

1.  .1.    W.   Kki.soi:.   N'icc-I'iosldent. 

2.  J.  C.  Hicks,  Monihcr  State  lOxociii  i vc  ('(iniiiiil  ici'. 
.'1   J.  I".  I'.AUKHit.  iJcmbi.r  Slate  lOxccutivc  Conimlttco. 

4.  l!i;.N  L.   IDl.i.,  MciiibiT  Slate  lOxeciitive  ("ominil  tee. 

5.  K(»i!i;uT  1''.  Oi:it,  Memjtei'  Stale  i:xeculive  Coiiiniilte 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  213 

and  g-ive  it  thorou.2[h  investig^ation.  There  are  thirty-five  parish 
Unions  (1908)  thoroughly  org;anized,  and  a  number  partially  so. 

The  present  Executive  Committee:  I.  N.  McCollister,  C.  R. 
Kelly,  N.  A.  Culberson,  W.  S.  Jones,  and  J.  M.  Davis,  constitute 
an  able  and  efficient  advisory  board,  which  exercises  supervision 
over  Union  matters  in  the  state.  This  boarfl  has  at  its  heal  1.  X. 
McCollister,  who  is  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  Union  not  onl\-  in 
his  state  but  throughout  the  entire  jurisdiction. 

Some  data  gotten  from  tlie  retiring-  Secretary-Treasurer's 
report  (1908)  is  here  inserted  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  an 
idea  of  the  conditions  of  Union  matters  throughout  the  state. 
J.  W.  Boyett,  Jr.,  says  'T  wish  to  say  that  while  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  make  as  encouraging  a  report  as  I  did  one  year  ago,  yet 
I  feel  that  you  are  aware  of  the  fact  that  we  have  passed  through 
one  of  the  greatest  panics  that  has  ever  been  known,  followed  as 
it  was  by  cyclones,  overflows  and  general  demoralization  of  all 
lines  of  industry ;  notwithstanding  all  this,  our  organization  is  in 
good  shape.  We  have  as  many  locals  in  good  standing  at  present 
as  at  any  time  since  our  State  organization.  It  is  true  nearly 
all  locals  have  lost  a  few  members,  but  the  fact  is,  they,  as  a  rule, 
have  been  benefitted  thereby,  inasmuch  as  they  have  onlv  been 
trimmed  of  the  dead  branches,  and  notwithstanding  the  manv 
reverses  that  have  prevailed,  our  growth  has  been  very  encourag- 
ing. There  have  been  ninety-three  locals  organized,  making  a 
total  of  seven  hundred  and  sixty  locals  to  date  in  the  State,  and 
while  a  number  of  locals  have  never  remitted  to  the  State  since 
they  were  organized,  there  are  now  some  six  hundred  locals  in 
good  standing.  We  have  thirty-five  parish  organizations  with 
several  others  partiall}'  organized." 

The  1908  convention  took  cognizance  of  the  local  organizations 
in  the  State.  Upon  examination  it  was  found  that  there  were 
61,000  homes  owned  free;  12,000  mortgages  and  181,000  rented 
ones.  These  figures  were  taken  by  the  committee  from  the  census 
report  of  the  United  States  government. 

GEORGIA. 

In  the  fall  of  1903,  R.  F.  Duckworth,  a  commissioned  organizer 
of  the  Farmers'  Union,  came  into  Georgia  to  begin  the  work -of 
organizing.  On  December  14.  1903,  the  first  local  Union  was 
organized  at  Sand  Town  School  House,  Trou])e  County.  Georgia. 
Fourteen  niembcrs  were  initiated  by  (Vganizer  Duckworth. 
Other  Unions  were  soon  organized,  and  the  work  was  prosecuted 


214:  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

in  Troupe,  Meriwether,  Upson,  Coweta,  Polk,  Forsyth,  and 
Gwinnett. 

The  first  State  Union  was  organized  in  May,  1905,  at  Thomas- 
ton,  Upson  County,  Georgia.  C.  S.  Barrett,  of  Atwater,  Upson 
County,  was  elected  State  President;  W.  P.  Quinby,  of  Carters- 
ville,  Bartow  County,  Vice-President,  and  R.  F.  Duckworth,  of 
Thomasville,  Upson  County,  Secretary-Treasurer. 

The  convention  adopted  a  constitution  and  by-laws  and  elected 
an  executive  committee  consisting  of  S.  S.  Barrett,  of  Pike 
County ;  J.  H.  Hoyle,  of  Upson  County ;  S.  J.  Smith,  of  Forsyth 
County;  W.  T.  Hogue,  of  Paulding  County,  and  J.  D.  Anderson, 
of  Cherokee  County.  C.  L.  Gowin  was  elected  the  first  State 
organizer,  but  he  soon  resigned.  Robert  L.  Barron,  of  Upson 
Countv,  was  elected  State  Lecturer,  and  continued  in  the  office 
until  January  i,  1907,  when  he  resigned. 

The  strength  and  success  of  Unionism  in  Georgia  may  be  said 
to  date  its  beginning  from  the  first  State  meeting.  Up  to  that 
tinie  there  had  been  no  central  head.  Duckworth,  representing  the 
Texas  State  Union,  had  carried  on  the  work  as  a  representative  of 
Texas.  Several  counties  had  been  organized,  and  each  county 
seemed  to  be  a  separate  and  distinct  Union.  This  convention 
brought  together  the  various  county  organizations  and  made  the 
Union  a  power  in  Georgia. 

The  convention  met  at  a  time  when  there  was  considerable  out- 
side opposition  to  the  farmers  organizing.  The  Cotton  Growers 
Association  had  come  into  existence  to  meet  an  emergency,  and 
many  of  the  farmers  who  belonged  to  the  association  did  not  take 
any  too  kindly  to  the  Farmers  Union.  The  newly  elected  officers 
recognized  that  they  had  before  them  a  task.  Some  of  the  locals 
that  had  been  organized  became  lukewarm,  and  others  ceased  to 
meet  altogether.  It  was  a  time  of  anxiety,  but  the  delegates  re- 
turned to  their  homes  enthused  with  the  principles  of  the  order 
and  immediately  set  to  work  to  communicate  that  enthusiasm  to 
those  who  did  not  go. 

SECOND    CONVENTION. 

The  second  convention  of  the  State  Union  met  in  the  State 
capitol  in  Atlanta,  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1906.  C.  S.  Barrett 
was  re-elected  State  President ;  W.  P.  Quinby,  of  Bartow  County, 
Vice-President ;  J.  L.  Barron,  Secretary-Treasurer,  R.  F.  Duck- 
worth having  been  elected  National  President,  and  R.  L.  Barron, 
Lecturer.      At  this  meeting,  John  L.  Lee,  of  DeKalb  County,  who 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  215 

had  some  months  before  been  appointed  Local  Organizer,  was 
elected  State  Organizer.  J.  H.  Hoyle,  S.  J.  Smith,  W.  T.  Hogue, 
and  J.  D,  Anderson,  were  re-elected  members  of  the  State  Ex- 
ecutive Committee.  W.  V.  Martin,  of  Tift  County,  was  also 
elected  a  member  of  the  executive  committee. 

There  was  a  very  noticeable  increase  in  the  attendance  of  dele- 
gates at  this  convention.  These  delegates  came  from  almost  every 
section  of  the  State  and  represented  fully  40  per  cent  of  all  the 
counties  in  the  State. 

The  officers  were  very  much  gratified  by  the  growth  of  the 
Union  during  the  year  that  had  just  past.  They  had  laid  the 
foundation  for  the  future  success  of  the  order. 

STATE   HEADQUARTERS. 

State  headquarters  for  the  Georgia  division  were  fixed  upon  at 
Atwater,  this  being  the  home  of  the  State  President.  State  head- 
quarters had  been  there  during  the  previous  year  and  was  so 
officially  recognized.  An  old  two-story  frame  building  was  secured 
and  in  the  upper  story  of  the  building  were  the  offices  of  the 
State  officials.  These  officials  in  addition  to  carrying  on  the 
clerical  work,  made  frequent  journeys  to  the  county  organizations 
throughout  the  State  and  were  themselves  leaders  in  the  organiz- 
ing movement.  Atwater  is  a  cross-roads  village  in  Upson  Countv, 
seven  miles  from  the  railroad,  and  remained  the  headquarters  of 
the  State  Union  until  January  i,  1907.  C.  S.  Barrett  was  elected 
National  President  of  the  Farmers  Union  at  the  Texarkana  meeting 
held  in  September,  1906,  and  resigned  as  State  President.  R.  F. 
Duckworth  was  elected  by  the  executive  committee  to  serve  out 
Barrett's  time,  ^^'hen  the  executive  committee  m€t  Januarv  i, 
1907.  Robt.  L.  Barron,  State  Lecturer,  resigned,  and  G.  M.  Davis, 
of  Floyd  County,  was  elected  in  his  place.  State  headquarters 
were  moved  from  Atwater,  to  Barnesville,  a  thriving  and  prosper- 
ous town  on  the  Central  of  Georgia  Railroad,  sixty-three  miles 
from  Atlanta.  The  niayor  and  city  council  at  Barnesville  gave 
free  of  rent  offices,  water  and  lights  as  an  inducement  to  secure 
the  removal  of  State  headquarters  to  their  town.  Accordingly,  on 
the  first  day  of  January,  Barnesville  became  the  headquarters  of 
the  Georgia  division. 

THIRD  CONVENTION. 

The  third  convention  of  the  Georgia  division  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  met  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  2}^,  24  and  25.     Delegates  from 


216  MISSION,   HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

sixty-three  organized  counties  were  present  when  the  roll  was 
called.  R.  F.  Duckworth,  State  President,  called  the  meeting-'to 
order.  Governor  Hoke  Smith  of  Georgia,  and  A.  M.  Soule,  dean 
of  the  Agricultural  College,  addressed  the  convention. 

The  address  of  R.  F.  Duckworth  was  an  able  one,  giving  a  brief 
history  of  the  Union  from  its  beginning,  January,  1904,  to  the 
convention.  Mr.  Duckworth  in  his  address  before  the  convention 
said  :  "Many  of  the  old  Alliance  leaders  joined  the  Southern  Cotton 
Association,  and  thinking  it  was  the  thing,  proceeded  to  discourage 
the  Farmers'  Union  by  either  speaking  slightingly  of  it,  or  ignor- 
ing it  altogether.  We  tried  to  get  some  of  them  to  make  speeches, 
but  failed.  The  first  men  of  State  reputation  that  we  were  able 
to  interest  were  Dr.  Hunnicutt  and  Hon.  J.  A.  Bodenhammer. 
These  gentlemen  were  running  newspapers,  and  through  their 
columns  they  welcomed  us  to  Georgia.  Mr.  Bodenhammer  con- 
tinued to  aid  us  through  the  columns  of  his  paper ;  Dr.  Hunnicutt 
spoke  at  our  first  big  rally  at  Thunder,  Georgia,  September,  1904. 
The  public  press  was  slow  to  give  our  meetings  any  notice.  The 
first  of  the  "big"  dailies  to  show  us  favors  was  the  Atlanta  Con- 
stitution. At  first  we  dodged  its  reports  because  of  its  reputation 
of  being  the  organ  of  the  corporations.  This  question  was  dis- 
cussed at  our  annual  convention  one  year  ago,  and  it  was  agreed 
to  let  any  paper  help  that  would.  The  Atlanta  Georgian  was  the 
next  to  fall  in  line,  and  the  fairness  with  which  these  two  papers 
have  treated  us  is  greatly  appreciated  by  our  membership.  They 
helped  when  help  was  needed.  There  are  other  dailies  that  could 
have  helped  us." 

The  report  of  the  State  organizer,  J.  L.  Lee,  showed  that  the 
membership  had  well  nigh  doubled  itself  since  the  last  meeting. 
State  Secretary  J.  L.  Barron's  books  showed  a  surplus  of  $2,- 
490.65  in  the  treasury  with  all  obligations  met.  At  the  convention 
in  1906  the  Union  was  in  debt,  and  some  of  its  members  had 
doubts  as  to  its  being  able  to  meet  its  running  expenses  and  pay 
up  its  debts,  but  all  these  doubts  were  dispelled  by  the  report. 
The  success  of  the  Union  during  the  year  ])ast  was  a  matter  of 
gratification  to  all. 

The  State  business  agent's  dei:)arlmcnt  had  licen  added  as  a  part 
of  the  Union  policy -by  order  of  the  executive  committee.  J.  G. 
Eubanks,  of  Polk  County,  a  farmer  and  an  experienced  business 
man,  had  been  placed  in  charge  of  this  department,  and  under  his 
management  the  business  department  was  thriving.  The  member- 
ship in  every  section  of  the  State  was  turning  to  this  department 


OF    THE    KAKMIiRS'    UNION.  217 

with  a  view  of  following'  out  the  principle  of  assisting  each  other 
in  buying  and  selling'. 

]).  A.  Carniichael,  of  J*"airhurn,  aj)])eare(l  bef(jre  this  convention 
and  made  a  proposition  to  sell  to  the  L'nion  an  implement  company 
of  which  he  was  owner.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  investi- 
gate the  proposition.  Upon  the  favorable  report  of  this  commit- 
tee, a  movement  was  set  on  foot  to  organize  a  joint  stock  company 
composed  of  Union  members  only.  The  company  was  organized 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000,  and  is  now  in  full  operation  at 
Union  City.     It  was  also  decided  to  establish  a  fertilizer  plant. 

This  convention  recognized  in  a  very  prominent  nianner  the 
efforts  to  secure  better  educational  facilities  for  the  farmer  boys 
and  girls  of  the  State.  Hie  establishment  of  eleven  agricultural 
schools  in  which  the  Union  had  taken  a  prominent  part  was 
indorsed.  A  committee  on  cotton  schools  consisting  of  R.  T. 
Nesbit,  W.  H.  Thompson,  R.  F.  Smith,  J.  E.  Beverly,  and  J.  C. 
Watkins,  was  appointed.  The  purpose  of  these  schools  is  to 
teach  cotton  grading,  so  that  the  farmer  may  know  the  value 
of  his  own  product. 

W.  C.  Bryan,  of  Coffee  County,  offered  a  resolution  indorsing 
the  establishment  of  a  sub-experiment  station  in  South  Georgia. 
This  resolution  called  upon  the  membership  to  use  their  influence, 
as  far  as  legitimate  and  honorable,  in  having  this  station  established 
near  the  Eleventh  District  Agricultural  College,  in  Coffee  County. 
The  resolution  was  referred  to  a  committee,  of  which  Paul  Lind- 
say, of  DeKalb,  was  chairman,  antl  upon  which  a  favorable  report 
was  made. 

Mrs.  W.  H.  Felton,  one  of  Georgia's  most  notable  women  and 
able  writers,  was  invited  to  address  this  convention. 

This  gathering  took  a  long  step  forward  in  behalf  of  the 
country  schools.  A  standing  committee  was  appointed  to  make  a 
thorough  investigation  of  the  needs  of  the  country  districts  and  to 
report  on.  the  same  at  the  next  annual  convention.  Dr.  William 
IJradford,  of  Cedartown,  Polk  County,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  his  countv,  was  the  chair- 
man. W.  M.  McGahee,  T.  L.  Hawkins,  J.  M.  Mayfield,  and 
W.  D.  J.  Sumner,  were  appointed  members  of  the  same  commit- 
tee. This  committee,  by  virtue  of  a  resolution,  became  a  part  of 
the  convention,  and  was  to  be  recognized  on  the  same  footing  as 
delegates  at  the  next  State  convention. 

Delegates  to  the  International  Convention  of  the  Cotton  Grow- 
ers and  Spinners  to  be  held  in  Atlanta,  in  October,  were  elected. 
R.  F.  Duckworth,  of  Barnesville,  was  chosen  delegate  at  large:  J. 


218  MISSION.    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

T.  Dickey,  of  the  Second  Congressional  District ;  T.  R.  Hendricks, 
of  the  Third ;  S.  E.  Leigh,  of  the  Fourth ;  W.  L.  Peek,  of  the 
Fifth;  J.  H.  Hoyle.  of  the  Sixth;  William  Bradford,  of  the 
Seventh ;  A.  H.  Smith,  of  the  Eighth ;  J.  N.  Twitty,  of  the  Ninth ; 
A.  H.  Sturgis,  of  the  Tenth,  and  W.  C.  Bryan,  of  the  Eleventh, 
were  elected  to  represent  the  Farmers'  Union  in  this  congress. 

The  convention  re-elected  all  of  the  former  officials.  R.  F. 
Duckworth  was  elected  President ;  W.  P.  Quinby,  Vice-President ; 
J.  L.  Barron,  Secretary-Treasurer;  J.  L.  Lee,  Organizer;  G.  M. 
Davis,  State  Lecturer  ;  J-  C.  \"enerable,  of  Gwinnett  County,  Chap- 
lain :  T.  N.  Bazemore.  Taylor  County,  Conductor,  and  J.  W. 
Burns,  Doorkeeper.  J.  L.  Lee,  of  DeKalb ;  Z.  R,  Taylor,  of 
Dodge,  and  J.  ^1.  Hart,  of  Clayton,  were  elected  Delegates  to  the 
National  Convention. 

One  of  the  things  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the  officers  and 
delegates  was  the  selection  of  a  place  for  the  permanent  home  of 
the  L^nion.  An  offer  by  D.  A.  Carmichael  to  furnish  offices  free 
of  rent  in  a  commodious  two-story  brick  building  to  be  erected 
seventeen  miles  from  Atlanta  on  the  A.  &  W.  P.  and  A.  B.  &  A. 
railroads,  where  a  town  could  be  laid  out,  was  made.  The  offer 
was  accepted.  L'nion  City  was  the  name  given  to  the  proposed 
town.  The  site  of  the  town  lay  partly  in  the  woods  and  the  fields 
of  Campbell  County.  A  little  church  and  one  or  two  farm  houses 
were  all  that  could  be  seen  of  the  town.  A  writer  who  visited  the 
place  about  this  time  said  :  "It  appears  to  be  a  splendid  place  for 
a  picnic."  Office  buildings  were  begun,  and  by  January  I,  the 
Georgia  division  moved  into  its  new  headquarters. 

The  town  is  barely  eleven  months  old,  and  yet  no  town  started 
in  the  same  way  can  equal  Union  City.  It  has  the  largest  single 
cylinder  printing  press  in  the  South,  an  acidulating  plant  for 
manufacturing  fertilizer,  an  implement  company  that  manufac- 
tures all  kinds  of  farm  implements,  and  other  industries.  It  is  on 
the  line  of  two  railroads  that  give  it  an  outlet  to  every  section  of 
the  country,  and  here  will,  remain  the  home  of  the  Farmers'  Union 
in  Georgia. 

FOURTH    CONVENTION. 

The  fiiurth  annual  convention  of  the  Farmers'  Union  was  held 
in  the  Auditorium  at  ]\Iacon,  Georgia,  July  28-30,  1908.  State 
President  R.  F.  Duckworth,  called  the  meeting  to  order,  and 
Ilarr}-  liunics,  secretary  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  of  Macon, 
welcomed    thr   convention   \c)   the    central    citv    in    an    impressive 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  219 

speech.  W.  A.  IMorris,  president  of  the  Alabama  Union,  and  S. 
F.  Parrott,  editor  of  the  Union  Sun.  of  South  Carolina,  made 
addresses. 

The  State  conventit)n,  which  had  met  in  Atlanta  the  year  pre- 
vious, instructed  the  State  officials  to  establish  four  lines  of  co- 
operation ;  an  implement  factory,  an  acidulating'  plant,  a  produce 
exchange,  and  a  cotton  company. 

There  was  a  marked  increase  in  the  number  of  organized 
counties  sending  delegates  over  that  of  the  previous  year.  The 
secretary's  books  showed  that  there  were  135  organized  counties 
out  of  147  in  the  State.  Of  these  124  were  represented  by  dele- 
gates. The  president  appointed  committees  on  good  roads,  on  tax- 
ation, on  farm,  implements,  on  co-operation,  on  warehousing  and 
marketing  cotton,  on  legislation,  on  fertilizers,  and  on  farm  pro- 
duce. The  members  of  these  several  committees  were  selected 
from  among  the  delegates  present  and  re|)resented  every  section 
of  the  State. 

On  January  before  the  meeting  of  this  convention,  J.  L.  Barron, 
of  Upson  County,  who  had  very  efficiently  served  as  secretary- 
treasurer,  resigned  to  accept  the  office  of  secretary-treasurer  of  the 
Union  Phosphate  Company  of  Georgia,  and  J.  T.  McDaniel,  of 
Rockdale,  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 

Col.  W.  S.  Harris,  of  Savannah,  fraternal  delegate  from  the 
Georgia  Federation  of  Labor,  was  received  as  such.  A  resolution 
requesting  the  president  of  the  Georgia  Division  of  the  Farmers' 
L'nion  to  return  the  greetings  in  person  at  tlie  next  annual  meeting 
of  the  Georgia  Federation  of  Labor,  was  offered  and  carried.  The 
committee  on  the  good  of  the  order  made  a  report  in  which  many 
good  recommendations  were  made.    The  report  is  as  follows : 

"First — By  electing  as  your  leaders  only  diligent  men  who  are 
alive  to  the  good  of  the  order. 

"Second — Encouraging  women  to  join. 

"Third — Discuss  such  questions  as  will  stimulate  the  reading  of 
good  literature  and  agricultural  papers  as  well  as  political  writings. 

"Fourth — Litroduce  social  entertainments. 

"Fifth — Inaugurate  a  system  of  exchange  of  agricultural  pro- 
ducts, improved  seed,  stock,  etc.,  among  the  Locals,  County  and 
State  membership. 

"Sixth — Organize  improvement  clubs,  schools,  good  roads, 
farms  and  homes. 

"Seventh — Give  prizes  on  the  garden  and  field  products :  hold 
local  fairs." 


220 


.MISSION.    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


\ri;  (iiiniALS  and  kx-statk  okitciai.s.  alap.a.ma  nix  isimn. 

1.   '1'.  V.  JoiiNSdN.  stale  Sefi-etai-.v-Trpasiiici-. 
•J.   J.  M.  TKAitsox,  lOx-Vice-I'resldiMit. 
T.  K.  I'lNKUAU.  i;,\-Statp  Lp(tui-t;r.  4.   O.  V.  KnuD,  State  Lecturer. 

.">.    1".    !•'.    I'.MiKKU,    lOx-State    Husiness    Agent. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  221 

This  same  committee  of  which  W.  F.  McDanicl  was  chairman, 
included  in  their  report  recommendations  as  follows : 

"First— EDUCATION'.     Instill  life  into  the  Local. 

"Second — A  Leg-islative  Committee  should  he  selected  from 
each  Local,  County  and  State,  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  National 
Legislative  Committee  in  order  to  hrini^  he  fore  the  people  the 
question  of  good  government. 

"First— CO-OPERATIOX.  We  heartily  endorse  the  co-opera- 
tive enterprises  now  in  operation — the  Implement  Co.,  Phosphate 
Co.,  and  Warehouses.  We  recommend  that  the  membership  com- 
plete their  system  of  warehouses,  and  at  once  co-o])erate  with  the 
Cotton  Company  for  the  purpose  of  moving  the  present  crop. 
We  urge  the  membership  to  support  these  institutions  and  sub- 
scribe stock  to  their  ability. 

"Second — In  order  to  encourage  other  labor  organizations,  the 
members  of  the  Farmers'  L^nion  should  buy,  when  possible,  only 
the  goods  that  are  tagged  with  the  L^nion  Label. 

"First — GOVERN]\IENT.  We  recommend  that  this  Conven- 
tion elect  a  Tribunal  Committee,  to  which  all  differences  arising 
between  the  State  Ofificers  shall  be  referred  for  adjustment.  This 
Committee  to  settle  all  such  differences  and  from  it  there  shall  be 
no  appeal. 

"Amendment  One — The  Tribunal  Committee  shall  consist  of 
one  man  from  each  Congressional  District,  elected  by  the  delegates 
from  that  district. 

"Amendment  Two — There  shall  be  appointed  at  each  State 
Convention,  a  Committee  on  Farming.  This  committee  shall  con- 
sist of  one  man  from  each  Congressional  District,  and  shall  also 
be  a  correspondent  to  the  agricultural  page  of  the  Ljiion  News." 

The  convention  declared  in  emphatic  terms  in  favor  of  better 
schools  and  reiterated  its  declaration  relative  to  the  district  agri- 
cultural schools.  The  following  committee  on  agriculture  was 
appointed  : 

First  district,  G.  F.  Emmitt,  Statesboro.  Ga. ;  Second  district, 
.\.  R.  Dasher,  Camilla,  Ga. ;  Third  district,  F.  D.  Wimberly,  Coch- 
ran, Ga. :  Fifth  district.  L.  W.  Jarman,  Porterdale,  Ga. ;  Seventh 
district.  \\'.  L.  Stallings,  Kingston,  Ga. ;  Eighth  district,  O.  J. 
Richardson.  Rutledge.  Ga. ;  Xinth  district,  S.  J-  Smith.  Gaines- 
ville, Ga. ;  Tenth  district.  Lawson  E.  Brown,  Sandersville.  Ga. ; 
Eleventh  district,  A.  H.  Odom,  Jesup,  Ga. 

R.  F.  Duckworth  was  re-elected  President ;  \\'.  P.  Ouinby.  \'ice- 
President :    J.    T.    McDaniel,    .Secrctarv-Treasurer ;    |.    L.    Lee, 


222  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

Organizer;  J.  C.  Venerable,  Chaplain;  T.  N.  Bazemore,  Con- 
ductor. J.  E.  Hall,  of  Berrien,  was  elected  Doorkeeper  to  succeed 
J.  W.  Burns,  who  declined  re-election.  All  the  former  members 
of  the  executive  committee  were  re-elected.  G.  M.  Davis  having 
resigned  as  State  Lecturer  in  November,  no  one  was  elected  to 
fill  his  place.  Miss  Jimmie  Doster,  of  Union  City ;  Hon.  J.  Pope 
Brown,  of  Pulaski  County ;  T.  L.  Hawkins,  of  Washington 
County;  B.  J.  Wooten,  of  Clayton  County;  Yancey  Carter,  of 
Hart  County,  and  M.  L.  Day,  of  Berrien  County,  were  elected 
delegates  to  the  National  Convention  which  met  in  Fort  Worth, 
Texas,  in  September. 

On  October  lo,  1908,  R.  F.  Duckworth  resigned  as  State  Presi- 
dent, and  John  L.  Lee,  of  Stone  Mountain,  DeKalb  County,  was 
elected  to  serve  out  his  unexpired  term. 

ALABAMA. 

Not  long  after  the  Union  had  been  planted  in  the  mother  State 
of  Texas,  an  organizer  found  his  way  into  the  goodly  State  of 
Alabama.  This  State  was  ripe  for  a  movement  of  the  kind  and 
the  people  felt  the  need  for  a  farmers'  organization.  Almost  every 
county  and  community  seemed  to  be  ready  to  embark  in  the  move- 
ment. 

Alabama  had  been  prominent  in  Alliance  affairs.  The  Alliance 
leaders  of  the  State  were  among  the  foremost  in  political  matters. 
The  first  sub-Alliance  of  Alabama  was  organized  by  Newt. 
Gresham,  of  Texas,  who  in  1902  became  the  founder  of  the 
Farmers'  Union. 

The  first  local  Farmers'  Union  was  organized  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State  by  an  organizer  whose  name  has  been  lost.  The 
first  efifective  work  began  in  Lamar  County,  the  home  of  W.  A. 
Morris,  now  President  of  the  State  Union.  E.  J.  Cook,  after- 
wards Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Alabama  State  Union,  was  the 
one  who  went  into  Lamar  County  and  began  organizing.  The 
Lamar  County  Linion  was  organized  October  7,  1904.  Wilson  was 
elected  President  of  the  Lamar  County  Union.  W.  A.  Morris, 
who  afterwards  became  one  of  the  most  prominent  leaders  of  the 
Union  in  Alabama,  was  present  and  helped  to  organize  the  County 
Union. 

STATE  UNION. 

In  August,  1905,  delegates  from  twenty-two  counties  met  at 
Cordova,  and  organized  the  State  Union.  L  A.  Worley,  of  Guin, 
was  elected  President;  E.  J-  Cook,  of  Guin,  Secretary-Treasurer; 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  223 

W.  A.  Morris,  of  Sulligent,  State  Organizer,  and  T.  E.  Pinegar, 
State  Lecturer.  H.  Pearson  was  elected  Vice-President;  P. 
F.  Parker  was  elected  State  Business  Agent;  G.  W.  Short, 
Conductor;  J.  N.  Hutto,  Doorkeeper,  and  H.  T.  Nations,  J.  A. 
Fanning,  I.  N.  Bishop,  W.  E.  Hughs,  and  J.  W.  Sorrell,  members 
of  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  second  State  Convention  met  in  Bessemer,  August  22,  23 
and  24,  1906.  Delegates  from  thirty-four  counties  with  twenty- 
six  organizers  made  up  this  convention.  The  report  of  President 
Worley,  some  extracts  of  which  are  given  below,  tends  to  show 
the  progress  made  during  the  first  year's  existence  of  the  State 
Union.     President  Worley  said  : 

"In  this  grand  old  State  of  Alabama,  in  the  \ear  just  closing. 
we  have  grown  in  membership  from  five  thousand  to  the  grand 
total  of  sixty  thousand,  from  202  chartered  locals  to  908;  from 
twenty-two  counties  to  fifty-eight  counties.  Further,  the  Farmers' 
Union  of  Alabama,  has  the  honor  of  being  the  pioneer  in  the 
practical  application  of  Farmers'  Co-Operative  Union  Ware- 
houses, Lamar  County  being  the  first,  and  our  honored  and  be- 
loved brother,  W.  A.  Morris,  being  the  father  of  this  paramount 
movement. 

"(")ld  Alabama  is  pleased  to  claim  the  bamier  for  increase  of 
membership,  building  of  warehouses,  financially,  etc.  Owing  to 
our  wonderful  growth  and  prosperity,  the  many  changes  and 
demands  upon  us  as  an  organization,  it  behooves  us  to  proceed  with 
prudence  upon  the  various  subjects  that  we  would  ask  your  atten- 
tion, and  as  the  conditions  have  not  materially  changed  since  our 
meeting  in  March  last,  we  will  be  pardoned  for  repeating  the  same 
suggestions  as  will  be  found  in  my  report  at  Canton." 

The  meeting  at  Canton  was  a  call  meeting. 

The  Business  Agent's  department  had  handled  during  the  first 
ten  months  of  its  existence  business  to  the  amount  of  $263,662.81, 
or  more  than  $26,000  per  month.  This  department  had  saved  the 
farmers  of  Alabama  $4  per  ton  on  fertilizers  and  ten  per  cent  on 
all  other  articles  purchased  through  the  department.  The  ware- 
house at  Sulligent,  which  began  business  September  15,  1905, 
handled  during  the  first  ten  months  over  $35,000  worth  of  busi- 
ness. These  facts  are  gathered  from  the  report  of  P.  F.  Parker, 
State  Business  Agent. 

The  following  officers  were  elected :  L  A.  Worley,  President 
(re-elected);  John  A.  Rhodes.  Greenville,  \^ice-President ;  E.  J- 
Cook,  Secretary-Treasurer  (re-elected)  ;  Vv.  A.  Morris,  Organizer 
(re-elected)  ;    T.  E.  Pinegar,  State  Lecturer   (re-elected)  :    P.  F. 


224  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND  TIMES 

Parker,  Business  Agent  (re-elected)  ;  J.  C.  Motley,  Chaplain;  J. 
F.  Hill,  Sergeant-at-Arms ;  G.  W.  Short,  Conductor  (re-elected)  ; 
J.  N.  Hutto.  Doorkeeper  (re-elected)  ;  H.  P.  Nations,  J,  A. 
Fanning,  I.  N.  Bishop,  W.  E.  Hughs,  and  J.  W.  Sorrell,  were 
re-elected  members  of  the  executive  committee.  Both  of  these 
State  Unions  were  outspoken  in  favor  of  better  educational  meth- 
ods, cotton  schools,  and  other  demands  of  the  Union.  These 
demands  were  rapidly  fastening  themselves  upon  the  people  of 
the  State,  and  the  Union  was  fast  growing  in  every  section  and 
everv  county. 

This  year,  I.  C.  Gibson,  J.  F.  Bishop,  H.  F.  Nations,  Walter 
Hill,  and  F.  M.  Self,  represented  the  Alabama  State  Union  as 
delegates  in  the  National  Convention  held  at  Texarkana. 

NEXT   STATE   CONVENTION. 

The  next  State  Union  met  in  the  town  of  Andalusia,  August 
28,  29  and  30,  1907.  Sixty  counties  had  representatives  at  this 
convention.  During  the  year  the  Union  had  made  progress.  A 
number  of  warehouses  had  been  bviilt  and  a  cotton  grading  school 
had  been  held  at  Auburn.  A  volume  of  business  aggregating 
$350,257.16,  had  passed  through  the  Business  Agent's  department. 
Of  this  amount  $45,611.15  was  for  flour,  and  $240,010.00  was  for 
fertilizers. 

J.  F.  Duncan,  of  Pickens  County,  was  elected  President;  J.  M. 
Pearson,  Lauderdale  County,  Vice-President ;  E.  J.  Cook,  Jeffer- 
son County,  Secretary-Treasurer;  W.  A.  Morris,  Lamar  County, 
Organizer;  O.  P.  Ford,  Talladega  County,  Lecturer;  L  N.  Black, 
Conecuh  County,  Chaplain;  ?k[.  J.  Taylor,  Lawrence  County, 
Doorkeeper,  and  J.  N.  Hutto,  Talladega  County,  Conductor.  J. 
F.  Baker,  Lamar  County  ;  J.  C.  Hicks.  Bibb  County ;  J.  J.  Robin- 
son, Chambers  County;  B.  L.  Hill,  Jackson  County;  R.  F.  Orr, 
Morgan  County,  members  of  the  Executive  Committee.  National 
delegates  were  elected  as  follows :  J.  F.  Flill,  Shelby  County ;  J. 
O.  Collins,  Walker  County;  J.  H.  Wilson,  Talladega  County; 
W.  M.  Eiland,  Perry  County;  Fred  Streit,  Colbert  County;  J.  F. 
Duncan,  Pickens  County ;  C.  O.  Beasley,  Covington  County. 

T.  E.  Pinegar.  who  had  been  elected  State  Lecturer  at  the 
convention  of  1906,  had  tendered  his  resignation,  and  the  place 
was  not  filled  until  the  meeting  of  the  convention  in  Andalusia. 
For  a  time  it  seemed  that  the  convention  would  be  tom  asunder, 
but  wiser  counsel  prevailed,  and  when  the  convention  met  in  Bir- 
mingham all  the  old  differences  were  adjusted  and  Alabama  is 
moving  along  smoothly. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  225 

BIRMINGHAM  CONVExNTION. 

Delegates  from  every  county  of  Alabama  met  in  the  city  of 
Birmingham,  July  i,  1908.  Representatives  of  the  city  of  Bir- 
mingham, the  Commercial  Club,  the  Board  of  Trade  and  the  State 
F'ederation  of  Labor,  delivered  addresses  of  welcome.  Fraternal 
delegates  from  the  United  Garment  Workers  of  America,  the 
Alabama  State  Federation  of  Labor,  the  Birmingham  Trades 
Council,  and  the  Ladies'  Label  League,  were  received  during  this 
convention.  The  offices  of  President  and  Organizer  were  con- 
solidated.    The  State  Business  Agent  was  made  elective. 

The  following  officers  were  elected :  W.  A.  Morris,  Lamar 
County,  President;  J.  W.  Kelsoe,  Coffee  County,  Vice-President; 
T.  F.  Johnson,  Lauderdale  County,  Secretary-Treasurer;  J.  C. 
Wallace,  Limestone  County,  Chaplain ;  O.  P.  Ford,  Calhoun 
County,  Lecturer ;  J.  F.  Hill,  Shelby  County,  Sergeant-at-Anns ; 
H.  O.  Dean,  Tallapoosa  County,  Conductor,  and  M.  J.  Taylor, 
Lawrence  County,  Doorkeeper.  The  executive  committee  con- 
sisting of  J.  J.  Robinson,  Jr.,  Chambers  County ;  J.  F.  liarker, 
Lamar  County ;  R.  F.  Orr,  Morgan  County ;  Ben  L.  Hill,  Jackson 
County,  and  J.  C.  Hicks,  Bibb  County,  were  elected.  The  follow- 
ing were  elected  to  the  National  Convention :  Mrs.  O.  P.  Ford, 
J.  H.  Wilson,  J.  J.  Robinson,  Jr.,  J.  M.  Pearson,  L.  O.  Cox, 
William  H.  Hundley,  and  G.  D.  Grant.  Every  county  in  the 
State  of  Alabama  has  a  county  organization  and  the  work  under 
the  administration  of  W.  A.  Morris  is  moving  along  splendidly. 


J. 5 


226  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


CHAPTER  XXI, 


STATE   ORGANIZATION— TENNESSEE,    MISSISSIPPI,    SOUTH 
CAROLINA,  KANSAS. 

TENNESSEE. 

THE  first  local  Union  organized  in  the  State  of  Tennessee 
was  at  Big-  Springs  School  House,  Madison  County.  J.  W. 
Morris,  of  Texas,  was  the  organizing  officer.  Nine  mem- 
bers joined  at  the  time,  and  since  then  (April  13,  1904),  this  local 
Union  has  grown  to  one  hundred  and  five  members,  and  is  still 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  R.  E.  Price  was  elected  President,  and 
A.  Roberts,  Secretary.  A.  Roberts  was  the  first  man  who  gave 
his  name  to  the  organizer  and  has  a  medal  given  by  the  organizer 
for  this  act. 

The  State  Union  was  organized  April  3,  1906,  by  Newt. 
Gresham.  This  was  the  first  time  Newt.  Gresham  visited  the 
State  in  the  interest  of  the  Farmers'  Union.  He  was  soon  after- 
ward stricken  with  appendicitis,  from  which  he  died. 

Tennessee  is  among  the  leading  States  in  all  things  that  pertain 
to  the  progress  of  the  Union.  A  good  class  of  farmers  are 
members,  and  they  are  striving  with  might  and  main  to  make 
the  Union  a  success.  The  Union  Cotton  Company  is  located  at 
Memphis,  one  of  the  cotton  emporiums  of  the  South,  and  the 
gateway  to  the  West.  This  cotton  company  has  a  branch  office 
in  Manchester,  England.  Cotton  warehouses  have  been  projected 
by  this  company  at  Memphis  on  a  gigantic  scale  and  these  will, 
in  time,  come  to  be  no  small  factor  in  controlling  the  price  of  the 
staple  product  of  the  South.  Nashville  is  well  located  for  a  point 
through  which  grain  may  be  shipped  into  the  Southern  sections, 
and  some  day  may  be  a  base  of  supply  for  the  States  that  lie  East 
of  Tennessee. 

On  the  whole,  Tennessee  is  well  located  to  become  the  centraliz- 
ing section  for  both  grain  and  cotton ;  and,  if  the  membership  of 
the  Union  employs  with  diligence  the  chances  which  are  theirs, 
Tennessee  will  be  a  center  of  influence  equaled  by  none.  Her 
waterways  anrl  her  trunk  lines  of  railways  furnish  ample  facilities 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  227 

for  cheap  transportation,  and  the  Union  membership  can,  if  they 
will,  profit  by  the  advantaf^eoiis  situation  of  their  State. 

J.  E.  Montgomery,  the  State  President,  is  an  active  officer,  and 
T.  J.  Brooks,  of  Atwood,  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  has  won  recogni- 
tion as  an  expounder  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Union.  He  is  the 
author  of  a  small  book  or  pamphlet  that  has  been  widely  read 
throughout  Tennessee  and  some  of  the  adjoining  States.  Other 
officers  have  been :  Sam  Young,  Vice-President ;  J.  N.  Davis, 
Second  Vice-President;  J.  T.  Babb  and  J.  T.  Upton,  Lecturers. 
J,  E.  Montgomery  has  held  the  office  of  President  since  the  first 
State  Union  was  organized  in  1906,  as  has  T.  J.  Brooks,  the 
Secretary's  place,  and  J.  T.  Upton,  formerly  held  the  place  of 
State  Organizer,  and  J.  G.  Babb,  Lecturer. 

There  are  two  features  pertaining  to  the  management  of  the 
Tennessee  State  Union  that  no  other  State  has.  These  features 
are  deemed  worthy  of  mention.  First,  the  constitution  provides 
that  each  local  secretary  shall  forward  to  the  secretary  of  the 
executive  committee  a  statement  of  all  moneys  sent  by  him  to  the 
State  Secretary-Treasurer.  At  the  close  of  each  quarter,  the 
Secretary  of  the  State  sends  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Executive 
Committee  his  books  which  the  Secretary  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee compares  with  the  statements  sent  to  him  by  the  local 
Secretaries.  By  this  method  the  State  Secretary  cannot  collect 
any  funds  without  duly  accounting  for  them.  Secondly,  the  State 
Secretary  of  his  own  volition  publishes  quarterly  an  itemized 
statement  of  all  receipts  and  disbursements. 

Tennessee  State  Union  met  in  its  third  annual  convention  on 
December  8,  1908,  in  the  courtroom  of  the  Madison  County  Court- 
house, in  the  city  of  Jackson.  The  delegates  came  for  business 
and  not  for  pleasure,  and  a  great  many  important  measures  were 
brought  before  the  body  and  action  taken  on  them.  It  was 
encouraging  to  note  the  interest  manifested  by  the  non-Union 
citizens  of  Jackson  and  Madison  Counties.  All  the  open  meetings 
were  well  attended,  and  on  the  public  speaking  nights  the  large 
courtroom  was  filled  to  the  very  doors.  ]\Iany  men  and  a  few 
ladies  stood  up  for  three  hours  and  listened  to  the  gospel  of 
Unionism  by  J.  M.  Pearson,  of  Alabama,  and  R.  A.  N.  Wilson,  of 
Mississippi. 

The  ninth  was  devoted  to  business  and  more  business  could 
hardly  have  been  crowded  into  one  day.  The  morning  session 
opened  at  7  130  o'clock  and  the  night  session  closed  at  i  :30  the 
next  morning.  Good  humor  and  brotherly  love  pervaded  the 
whole  assembly,  and  although  several  of  the  delegates  left  on  early 


228  MISSION,,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

trains  for  their  respective  homes,  there  were  considerably  more 
than  one  hundred  delegates  in  the  room  when  they  adjourned  by 
singing,  "In  the  Sweet  Bye  and  Bye,"  and  a  general  handshaking. 

Some  of  the  important  features  of  this  convention  follows : 
The  State  Executive  Committee  met  on  the  seventh  and  examined 
the  books,  receipts  and  reports  of  the  State  Secretary-Treasurer, 
and  reported  that  they  failed  to  find  a  single  error  on  the  books,. 
and  also  declared  that  the  State  Secretary's  administration  had 
been  painstaking  and  accurate. 

From  the  State  Secretary-Treasurer's  report  we  gather  these 
■facts :  "One  year  ago  we  had  760  local  Unions.  At  the  present 
we  have  955,  a  gain  of  195  locals.  Since  the  first  day  of 
January,  1908,  we  have  collected  $6,743.88,  and  paid  out  $6,- 
708.11.  During  the  year  six  counties  have  been  chartered, 
namely  :  Giles,  -Rutherford,  Henry,  Bradley,  Polk  and  Stewart."" 
A  statement  of  the  year's  finances  shows  that  on  November  30,. 
there  was  a  cash  balance  on  hand  of  $741.30. 

A  very  important  measure  adopted  by  this  convention  was  to 
federate  all  the  Union  warehouses  in  the  State  under  one  head 
and  that  a  board  of  three  be  appointed  by  the  State  Executive 
Committee  to  have  general  charge  of  the  warehouses  so  federated 
and  to  be  known  as  the  "Board  of  Control."  This  board  is  to 
•appoint  a  manager  for  each  warehouse,  and  the  selling  of  all 
cotton  or  other  product  that  passes  through  the  warehouses  is  to 
be  under  the  control  of  this  board. 

In  addition  to  this  a  house  to  house  canvass  is  to  be  made  in 
every  county  of  the  cotton  belt  and  every  Union  and  non-Union 
farmer  is  to  be  urged  to  sign  an  agreement,  or  pledge,  that  they 
will  reduce  their  cotton  acreage  to  the  extent  that  enough  food 
and  feed  stuff  will  be  raised  for  home  use.  And  also,  that  they 
will  market  at  least  a  part  of  the  1909  cotton  through  Union 
channels. 

Another  very  important  step  was  the  electing  of  a  committee 
consisting  of  State  Secretary  T.  J.  Brooks,  J.  H.  McDowell,  and 
W.  G.  Perkins,  to  visit  the  Tennessee  Legislature  and  work  for  a 
law  abolishing  the  bucketshops  in  Tennessee,  and  to  look  after  any 
other  legislation  that  is  for  the  benefit  of  the  farmers  in  the  State. 

As  proof  that  the  Tennessee  Union  is  running  smoothly,  we 
point  to  the  fact  that  the  State  President,  J.  E.  Montgomery, 
and  State  Secretary  T.  J.  Brooks,  were  both  re-elected  to  a  third 
term  by  acclamation,  no  one  being  placed  in  nomination  against 
either  of  them. 

Other  State  officers  of  Tennessee  arc :  L.   M.  Rhodes,  Vice- 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  229 

President;  G.  G.  Jarrell,  W.  H.  Rhodes,  J.  D.  Tarrant,  T.  N. 
Epperson,  and  T.  W.  Cunningham  are  State  Executive  Commit- 
teemen, 

MISSISSIPPI — ITS  WAREHOUSES  AND  BANKS. 

The  Mississippi  Union  has  worked  out,  at  considerable  trouble, 
complete  details  for  the  operation  of  the  Farmers'  Union  Ware- 
houses. 

The  officials  knew  that  business  methods  must  be  employed  for 
the  warehouse  system  to  succeed.  Acting  upon  this  knowledge, 
they  secured  the  services  of  a  man  experienced  in  the  handling  of 
■corporation  matters  to  make  an  investigation.  The  expert  pre- 
pared a  set  of  books,  receipts  and  reports  and  inaugurated  a  system 
for  the  management  of  the  warehouses. 

A  feature  of  the  system  is  the  issuance  of  negotiable  receipts, 
better  known  as  cotton  certificates.  These  receipts  have  been 
-examined  by  several  bankers  and  as  many  attorneys,  and  have 
been  pronounced  adequate  and  legal. 

The  first  local  Union  was  organized  in  Mississippi  early  in  1904. 
The  exact  date  cannot  be  learned  owing  to  the  fact  that  in  the 
beginning  of  the  organization  few  records  were  kept.  Those  kept 
at  headquarters  in  Texas  were  destroyed  by  fire.  B.  F.  Burgess, 
a  commissioned  organizer,  planted  the  Union  in  Mississippi, 
having  organized  the  first  local  Union  there.  From  this  beginning 
the  Union  grew  very  rapidly. 

The  State  Union  was  organized  March  13,  1906,  at  Jackson, 
Mississippi.  J.  M.  Bass,  of  Hazelhurst,  was  elected  President ; 
'G.  W.  Russell,  Secretary-Treasurer;  T.  F.  Kyle,  of  Plymouth, 
Vice-President ;  E.  M.  Boyd,  Rayburn,  Chaplain ;  T.  W.  Thomp- 
son, Blue  Springs,  Conductor;  Abner  Pen,  Aryeville,  Doorkeeper, 
and  H.  W.  Bradshaw,  Pelahatchie ;  T.  R.  Palmer,  Greenwood 
■Springs ;  M.  A.  Brown,  Yazoo  City :  W.  E.  Dunwoody,  Enon,  and 
B.  H.  Wade,  Beldon,  members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  convention  in  1907,  being  satisfied  with  these  officials,  they 
were  re-elected.  This  convention  outlined  plans  and  made  pro- 
visions for  the  extension  of  the  work  to  every  county  in  the  State. 
Other  conventions  since  then  have  witnessed  growth  and  develop- 
ment in  all  quarters  of  the  country. 

On  January  2,  1908,  delegates  from  sixty-five  counties  met  in 
the  city  of  Jackson,  in  the  second  annual  session  of  the  Mississippi 
•division  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 

Hon.  William  Hemingway  delivered  the  address  of  welcome 
and  W.  W.  Welch  made  the  response.     The  address  of  President 


230  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Bass  brought  out  the  fact  that  he  had  visited  in  his  official  capacity, 
fourteen  counties  and  deHvered  lectures  in  them,  in  which  he 
advised  the  establishment  of  cotton  grading  schools.  During  the 
year  just  past,  the  Union  put  forth  an  effort  to  have  cotton 
wrapped  in  cotton  bagging. 

This  is  the  first  Union  State  to  adopt  cotton  bagging. 

This  effort,  however,  did  not  meet  with  the  success  that  its 
promoters  had  anticipated. 

The  report  of  the  President  showed  that  there  were  thirty-one 
warehouses  in  the  State,  capitalized  at  $274,000.  Other  ware- 
houses are  in  process  of  construction  and  many  others  have  been 
planned,  which,  when  complete,  will  bring  the  capital  stock  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  warehouse  in  the  State  of  Mississippi  up  to 
$500,000. 

On  the  question  of  banking,  the  State  Union  took  steps  looking 
to  the  establishment  of  a  bank  to  be  known  as  the  Farmers'  Union 
Bank  &  Trust  Company,  this  being  one  of  the  first  efforts  of  any 
State  Union  to  embark  in  the  banking  business. 

The  president  stated  that  if  this  bank  is  wisely  and  judiciously 
handled  it  will  prove  the  one  institution  that  will  place  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  upon  that  broad  business  platform  that  will  guarantee 
its  success. 

The  committee  on  good  of  the  order,  through  a  resolution  passed 
by  the  convention,  instructed  the  president  and  executive  commit- 
tee to  furnish  the  membership  with  some  good  literature  on 
Unionism. 

The  secretary  was  instructed  to  prepare  a  suitable  blank  for  the 
local  Unions  to  report  the  actual  acreage  of  cotton.  Condition 
of  cotton  as  well  as  the  number  of  acres  was  to  be  given  on  this 
blank  so  that  the  delegates  to  the  national  convention 
might  have  accurate  data  before  them  when  fixing  the  minimum 
price  on  cotton.  Much  complaint  had  been  made  about  data  of 
this  kind,  hence  the  action  of  the  convention.  A  copy  of  this 
resolution  was  requested  to  be  sent  to  every  State  Secretary 
where  the  Union  was  organized. 

The  trustees  of  the  Mississippi  Agricultural  School  were  asked 
to  have  a  department  on  cotton  grading  added  to  the  school.  By 
request,  this  department  was  to  be  attached  to  the  business  depart- 
ment. The  cotton  schools  held  under  tiie  auspices  of  the  l^nion 
have  been  so  successful  that  the  committee  deemed  it  a  wise  step 
for  the  Agricultural  School  to  take  up  the  cotton  grading  depart- 
ment. 

In  the  election  of  officers  G.  R.  Hightower  was  elected  Presi- 


OF  THE    farmers'    UNION.  231 

dent;  T.  R.  Palmer,  Vice-President;  G.  W.  Russell,  Secretary- 
Treasurer;  R.  A.  N.  Wilson,  Chaplain,  and  S.  T.  Rhodes,  Con- 
ductor. Executive  Committee  is  composed  of  John  L.  Collins, 
Yalobusha  County;  F.  S.  Coffin,  Clark  County;  T.  J.  Johnson, 
Itawamba  County;  W.  H.  Kobb,  Monroe  County,  and  J.  W. 
Shoemaker,  Union  County.  Orange  Herrington  was  later  placed 
on  the  committee  to  fill  out  the  term  of  Coflin,  who  died  in  office. 

At  the  annual  convention  held  in  January,  1909,  the  following 
officers  were  elected :  G.  R.  Hightower,  Oxford,  re-elected 
President;  J.  M.  Bass,  Hazelhurst,  Vice-President;  G.  W.  Russell, 
Hazelhurst,  Secretary-Treasurer;  J.  L.  Collins,  State  Business 
Agent.  W.  H.  Kobb,  Aberdeen ;  J.  M,  Harvey,  Meridian ;  J.  L. 
Jones,  McComb  City;  Orange  Herrington,  Ellisville,  and  J.  W. 
Carter,  Bentley,  members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Some  of  the  important  things  acted  upon  at  the  State  convention 
were  resolutions  endorsing  the  establishment  of  a  produce  ex- 
change, the  naming  of  the  second  Friday  in  February  as  Diversi- 
fication Day,  and  requesting  that  all  local  Unions  meet  and  lay 
plans  for  the  ensuing  year,  approval  of  the  plans  to  secure  the 
co-operation  of  the  banks  in  Mississippi,  and  the  financing  of 
cotton,  approval  of  the  work  of  the  warehouse  federation  in  Mis- 
sissippi, and  the  adoption  of  the  resolutions  instructing  a  special 
committee  to  begin  at  once  to  incorporate  all  the  warehouses  under 
one  charter,  and  to  secure  a  capitalization  of  said  incorporation 
for  not  less  than  $1,000,000;  approval  of  the  plan  to  have  a  great 
warehouse  at  New  Orleans,  launching  of  a  State  paper  to  be 
owned  and  controlled  by  the  State  Union,  which  will  be  sent  free 
to  every  home  in  the  State  where  the  Union  is  represented.  To 
carry  the  latter  project  into  effect  the  constitutional  amendment 
was  submitted  to  the  membership,  raising  the  dues  from  68  cents 
to  $1.10  per  year. 

SOUTH   CAROLINA. 

The  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  South  Carolina 
was  begun  by  B.  F.  Earle,  a  native  of  Anderson  County,  South 
Carolina.  Earle  had  moved  to  Texas  a  number  of  years  before 
the  beginning  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  settled  in  Hunt  County, 
where  shortly  after  the  organization  of  the  Union  he  was  living 
and  where  he  joined  the  Union.  He  was  commissioned  organizer 
for  the  Siate  of  South  Carolina,  and  organized  the  first  local  Union 
at  Septus,  Anderson  County,  with  seventeen  members.  The  local 
was  named  "Five  Forks,"  and  T.  T.  Wakefield  was  elected  Presi- 
dent, and  W.  L,  Casey,  Secretary  of  this  local.     The  work  of  the 


232 


MISSION,    HISTORY  AND   TIMES 


STATE    OFFICIALS,    TEXNESSKIO    DIVISION. 

1.  T.  .T.  P.nooKs,  State  Scci-ctary-Troasnror. 

2.  J.  E.  MoNTOOMKRY,  State  President  Tennessee  and  Vice-President 

National  Union. 
3.  J.  N.  Davis,  Ex-Vice  Prosldent.  4.  J.  T.  Upton,  State  Organizer. 


01'   THE    TARMERS'    UNION.  233 

XJnion  was  extended  into  Pickens,  Oconee,  Greenville,  Spartan- 
burg, Laurens,  Abbeville,  Greenwood,  Union,  Cherokee,  York, 
and  Lancaster  Counties. 

In  May,  1906,  delegates  met  in  the  city  of  Anderson,  and  organ- 
ized the  first  State  Union.  O.  P.  Goodwin,  of  Laurens  County, 
was  elected  President ;  T.  T.  Wakefield,  of  Anderson,  Vice-Presi- 
dent, and  B.  F.  Earle,  of  the  same  place,  Secretary-Treasurer; 
M.  A.  Mahaffey  was  elected  State  Organizer.  J.  C.  Stribling, 
Pendleton ;  B.  Harris,  Anderson,  and  T.  T.  Wakefield,  Anderson, 
-were  elected  members  of  the  Executive  Committee.  The  growth 
of  the  L^nion  in  South  Carolina  was  slow.  Many  of  the  farmers  • 
were  afraid  that  the  organization  would  drift  into  politics,  as  did 
the  Alliance. 

The  Farmers'  Alliance  had  grown  very  rapidly  in  this  State, 
and  politicians  availing  themselves  of  the  opportunity,  had  taken 
advantage  of  the  popularity  of  the  Alliance  and  the  prejudice  of 
its  members  to  foist  themselves  into  office.  The  State  had  been 
torn  by  a  political  strife,  such  as  had  not  been  witnessed  since  the 
stirring  days  of  nullification,  when  John  C.  Calhoun  led  the  fight 
in  the  LTnited  States  Senate  for  States'  rights.,  and  George  Mc- 
Duffie,  the  fiery  Irish  orator,  awoke  the  people  to  a  fighting  mood. 
The  people  of  the  State,  during  the  heated  political  campaign, 
the  outgrowth  of  the  Alliance,  were  divided  into  two  factions. 
Bitterness  and  strife  marked  its  progress.  Brother  was  divided 
against  brother,  and  oftentimes  father  against  son,  and  bitter  dis- 
cussions around  the  firesides  were  the  result. 

When  the  organizers  entered  the  State,  South  Carolinians  did 
not  take  to  them  any  too  kindly  as  they  feared  that  there  might  be 
a  repetition  of  the  scenes  through  which  they  had  passed  in  1890. 
In  fact,  they  took  it  as  a  political  movement,  hence  the  growth  was 
slow.  Hardly  had  the  State  Union  been  organized  before  dis- 
sensions and  discords  among  the  officials  became  apparent,  and 
they  soon  got  to  fighting  among  themselves,  which  also  prevented 
the  rapid  spread  of  the  Union  in  the  State. 

The  second  State  convention  was  held  in  the  city  of  Greenwood, 
July  25,  1907.  O.  P.  Goodwin,  of  Laurens,  was  re-elected  Presi- 
dent, and  T.  T.  Wakefield,  of  Anderson,  Vice-President.  A 
number  of  committees  were  appointed,  one  of  the  most  important 
being  a  committee  on  warehouses.  W.  C.  Moore,  of  Greenville, 
then  acting  State  Business  Agent,  was  appointed  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  fertilizers.  Moore  went  to  Manchester,  England, 
in  the  fall  after  the  convention  and  remained  for  some  time,  ne- 
gotiating  with   the   spinners    for   direct   trade   relations   between 


234  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

growers  and  manufacturers.  Aloore's  trip  was  not  successful,  as 
the  cotton  company  which  he  represented  in  Greenville,  got  out  of 
harmony  with  the  State  Union. 

Before  the  convention  adjourned,  it  was  clear  that  some  of  the 
officers  could  not  agree,  and  a  row  was  imminent.  They  differed 
as  to  what  should  be  the  policy  of  the  Union  upon  certain  issues 
affecting  the  State.  An  effort  was  made  to  bring  the  factions  to- 
gether, but  it  failed.  A  call  session  of  the  Union  was  held  in  the 
city  of  Columbia,  in  November,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  the 
dispute  between  the  parties.  The  membership  was  so  torn  by  the 
row  that  it  was  deemed  best  to  surrender  the  State  charter.  B.  F. 
Earle,  of  Anderson,  was  put  in  charge  of  the  Union  affairs  in  the 
State  by  National  Secretary  R.  H.  McCulloch,  of  Beebe,  Arkansas. 

THIRD    CONVENTION. 

The  third  convention  of  the  State  Union  was  held  in  the  city 
of  Columbia,  in  July,  1908.  B.  Harris,  who  had  been  elected 
president  by  a  call  convention,  was  re-elected  president,  arid  J. 
Whitner  Reid,  Secretary.  This  convention  was  a  harmonious 
one.  The  old  rows  were  forgotten,  and  each  one  present  con- 
fidently set  his  face  toward  a  new  era  in  the  life  and  progress 
of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  South  Carolina.  This  convention 
placed  the  organizing  force  in  the  hands  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. This  committee  was  made  up  of  W.  R.  Parks,  Parks- 
ville ;  J.  C.  Stribling,  Pendleton ;  O.  P.  Goodwin,  Laurens ;  J.  F. 
Ash,  McConnellsville ;  T.  C.  Willoughby,  Florence ;  L.  L.  Baker, 
Bishopville 

Since  the  reorganization  of  the  State  Union,  the  work  of  organ- 
ization has  been  pushed.  The  following  counties  have  been  organ- 
ized during  1908 :  Fairfield,  Richland,  Orangeburg,  Calhoun, 
Williamsburg,  Clarendon,  Marion,  and  is  now  being  pushed  in 
Aiken,  Barnwell,  Bamberg,  Marlboro,  Horry,  and  Union. 

The  county  business  agents  met  in  the  city  of  Columbia  on 
December  8  and  elected  J.  M.  Holmes,  of  Calhoun  County  as 
State  Business  Agent.  At  that  time  it  was  decided  to  hold  a 
special  meeting  of  the  State  Uriion  in  January  for  the  purpose 
of  letting  the  membership  in  the  State  become  better  acquainted. 

KANSAS. 

Kansas  lies  in  the  wheat  and  corn-growing  belt.  Her  people 
claim  that  she  produces  more  wheat  and  corn,  when  the  two  are 
considered  together,  than  any  other  State.    This  State  was,  during 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  235 

the  days  of  the  Alhance,  a  leading  State  of  that  organization, 
Jerry  Simpson,  known  as  the  "Sockless  Statesman,"  was  for 
several  years  a  member  of  Congress  from  Kansas  on  the  Al- 
liance platform. 

The  State  was  settled  by  Abolitionists  from  the  North  and 
champions  of  slavery  from  the  South.  The  State,  therefore, 
was  a  hotbed  of  strife  at  the  time  Kansas  was  admitted  to  state- 
hood before  the  civil  war.  In  an  atmosphere  of  this  kind,  her 
people  came  to  be  fighters  and  contenders  for  whatever  they 
considered  right.  They  were  always  strong  supporters  of  farm- 
ers' organizations,  and  ready  to  join  in  any  movement  of  the  kind. 

Hence  when  the  Union  was  planted  there  in  1906,  the  farmers 
were  ready  to  welcome  it  as  a  means  of  deliverance  from  the 
mortgage  system  then  operative  throughout  the  State.  So  gen- 
eral was  the  system  that  one  of  the  attractions  at  the  St.  Louis 
Expositon  was  a  carload  of  canceled  mortgages  from  Kansas. 
For  many  years  the  farms  of  the  State  had  been  mortgaged 
up  to  almost  their  full  value.  Poor  crops  and  low  prices  were 
in  the  main  responsible  for  the  existence  of  so  many  mortgages. 
The  farmers,  hoping  to  free  themselves  from  debt  by  the  opera- 
tion of  the  Union,  joined  in  numbers. 

The  farmers'  co-operative  business  meeting  at  Topeka  in  the 
fall  of  1906  had  a  very  beneficial  influence  on  the  Union  in  the 
State,  and  furnished  a  means  by  which  it  was  largely  advertised 
in  that  State.  As  stated  elsewhere,  this  congress  was  barren  of 
results,  except  as  it  applied  to  the  State  of  Kansas.  From  this 
meeting  came  an  enthusiasm  that  diffused  itself  throughout  the 
State. 

The  State  Union  was  organized  in  Hutchinson,  and  the  out- 
look was  bright,  but  a  row  soon  broke  out,  and  to  make  the  story 
short,  the  charter  was  suspended  and  a  State  meeting  was  called 
to  meet  in  Hutchinson  in  1907,  to  reorganize  the  State  Union, 
and  the  following  ofificers  were  elected :  E.  H.  Hewins,  Topeka, 
President ;  Alex  Naylor,  Cimarron,  Vice-President ;  Alvin  Allen, 
Jetmorc,  Secretary-Treasurer.  Executive  Committee :  F.  I. 
Burt,  Hallet ;  E,  S.  Newlin,  Emporia ;  F.  N.  Batchman,  Great 
Bend;  J.  L.  Gant,  Medicine  Lodge;  M.  McAulifT,  Salina;  C. 
H.  Melvin.  Eminence ;  Chaplain,  C.  E,  Roughten,  Jetmore ;  Con- 
ductor, C.  S.  Walker,  White  City;  Doorkeeper,  Ole  Olson,  Salina. 
Alvin  Allen  has  since  resigned  as  State  Secretary-Treasurer,  and 
E.  M.  Rogers  has  been  elected  in  his  place. 

The  Kansas  row  was  the  cause  in  that  State  of  a  lot  of  harm, 
from  which  it  has  not  fullv  recovered  at  this  time.     The  work  in 


236  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

some  of  the  adjoining  States  has  been  retarded  by  the  disputes. 
This,  however,  is  being  overcome,  and  the  border  States  about 
Kansas  are  beginning  to  hne  up  for  the  Union. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  membership  of  Kansas  has  learned 
a  lesson  that  they  will  not  soon  forget,  and  that  other  States  may 
profit  by  the  experiences  of  this  State.  No  State  can  long  prosper 
with  rival  factions  contending  with  each  other.  The  one  that  wins 
out  cannot  bring  about  the  peace  that  should  mark  the  onward 
trend  of  Union  affairs.  Somebody  is  hurt;  somebody's  feelings 
are  lacerated,  and  the  work  suffers  accordingly.  If  we  ever  ex- 
pect to  accomplish  the  noble  purpose  for  which  our  order  stands 
and  bring  to  the  highest  perfection  the  splendid  privileges,  we, 
as  Union  members,  expect,  we  must  surrender  our  selfish  motives 
to  the  wishes  of  the  majority. 

Kansas  has  a  number  of  independent  elevator  concerns  that 
do  business  with  many  independent  buyers.  Haven  is  the  head- 
quarters for  these  elevator  companies,  some  of  which  are  in  a 
measure  controlled  by  Union  men,  or  men  in  sympathy  with  the 
Union.  Iowa,  Illinois,  and  Minnesota,  likewise  are  well  organ- 
ized fields  of  operation  in  the  matter  of  independent  grain  eleva- 
tors. However,  the  Union  has  but  little  following,  except  in 
Kansas  and  Illinois.  These  elevators  are  doing  a  lot  for  the 
farmers  throughout  the  territory  where  they  are,  and  will  aid  the 
men  in  getting  better  prices. 

The  movement  has  already  had  its  effect  upon  the  grain  mar- 
kets of  the  West  and  Middle  West,  and  when  the  Union  gets  a 
good  hold  upon  the  section,  the  training  in  co-operative  lines  will 
have  its  weight  upon  the  country.  The  Middle  Western  States 
can  be  of  great  service  to  the  people  of  the  South,  by  furnishing 
them  with  grain  and  meat  at  a  lower  price  to  the  Southern  people 
and  at  an  increase  to  themselves. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  287 


CHAPTER  XXII 


STATE  ORGANIZATION  — ILLINOIS,  MISSOURI,  COLORADO, 
WASHINGTON,  FLORIDA,  NORTH  CAROLINA,  KENTUCKY, 
IOWA,  OREGON,  IDAHO,  VIRGINIA,  CALIFORNIA. 

ILLINOIS. 

THE  Illinois  State  Union  was  organized  March  27,  28,  1907, 
af  Marion.  A  delegation  of  three  members  was  sent  from 
the  Farmers'  National  Union  of  IlHnois,  Missouri  and 
Indiana,  to  the  Texarkana  convention  of  the  Farmers'  Union 
which  met  in  September,  1906,  asking  that  they  be  allowed  to 
merge  with  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of 
America. 

The  Farmers'  Union  of  Illinois  was  a  farmers'  organization 
confined  principally  to  Illinois,  Missouri  and  Indiana,  and  many 
of  the  substantial  farmers  of  these  States  were  members,  and  as 
soon  as  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  came 
into  prominence,  these  members  sought  to  merge,  and  accordingly 
sent  delegates  to  Texarkana. 

The  Texarkana  convention  instructed  the  president,  with  the 
advice  of  the  national  board  of  directors,  to  take  over  this  organ- 
ization, if  upon  investigation  they  found  it  the  proper  thing  to  do. 
The  national  board  made  an  investigation,  with  the  result  that  the 
Farmers'  Union  was  merged  with  the  Farmers'  Educational  and 
Co-operative  Union,  and  constitutes  a  part  of  the  national  organ- 
ization. 

The  real  work  of  the  Farmers'  Union  of  Illinois  b'egan  April  27, 
1900,  when  at  Brush  Creek  School  House.  Somerset  Township, 
Jackson  County,  the  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union  was 
organized  bv  forty-six  farmers.  The  name  and  plan  of  this  Union 
were  furnished  bv  W.  D.  Crews.  The  first  local  lodge  of  that 
organization  was  organized  at  Grange  Hall  by  Edward  Deason, 
one  of  the  deputy  organizers,  acting  under  the  first  State  Organ- 
izer. W.  D.  Crews. 

Prior  to  the  meeting  at  Marion,  an  organizer  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  had  visited  the  State,  but  very  little  had  been  done  by  way 
of  effecting  an  organization.     T.  P.  Crawford  organized  the  first 


238  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

local  of  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  at  Pine 
Knot,  in  Wayne  County. 

At  Marion  a  committee  drafted  a  constitution  under  which  the 
following  State  officers  were  elected : 

A.  H.  Evans,  President ;  W,  A.  Bain,  Vice-President ;  E.  B. 
Hunter.  Secretary-Treasurer ;  Andrew  Sheppard,  Chaplain ; 
T.  P.  Crawford,  Conductor,  and  G.  B.  Sanders,  M.  M.  Sims,  G.  W. 
Bennett,  G.  W.  Ketterman,  and  E.  T.  Pierce,  members  of  the 
Board  of  State  Directors.  The  Board  of  Directors  appointed  organ- 
iz-ers  for  each  county,  thereby  making  provision  for  the  immediate 
prosecution  of  the  organization  work  on  a  larger  scale.  Also  the 
Union  Farmer,  which  had  up  to  that  time  been  the  official  organ 
of  the  Union,  under  the  ownership  of  the  Union,  was  turned  over 
to  the  ownership  of  its  editor,  W.  D.  Crews,  by  whom  it  is  still 
conducted. 

The  Farmers'  Union  had  incurred  some  indebtedness,  and  when 
the  consolidation  was  made,  money  was  raised  at  the  time  by  the 
micmbers  of  the  convention  to  meet  all  the  obligations  of  the  old 
organization. 

The  Marion  convention  took  decided  action  on  the  temperance 
question  by  passing  a  strong  resolution  petitioning  the  Illinois 
Legislature  to  pass  the  local  option  bill. 

The  1907  session  of  the  Illinois  Farmers'  Union  convention  was 
held  at  Mt.  Vernon.  A.  H.  Evans,  W.  A.  Bain,  and  E.  B.  Hunter 
were  re-elected  President,  Vice-President,  and  Secretary- 
Treasurer,  respectively.  J.  H.  Henson  was  elected  Organizer, 
and  George  S.  Reinhardt  Business  Agent.  All  members  of  the 
Executive  Committee  were  re-elected. 

At  the  annual  convention  of  1908,  held  at  Pinckne3wille,  the 
following  officers  were  elected : 

A.  H.  Evans.  President,  Tamaroa ;  W.  A.  Bain,  Vice-President, 
Benton ;  E.  B.  Hunter,  Secretary-Treasurer,  Murphysboro ;  John 

F.  Craig,  Organizer  and  Lecturer,  Johnson  County ;  J.  F.  Henson, 
Chaplain,  Orchardville ;  W.  A.  Riley,  Conductor.  Xenia ;  J.  L. 
Halam,  Doorkeeper,  Crossville ;  Joseph  Burkett,  Business  Agent, 
Orchardville ;  Executive  Committee :  J.  F.  Henson,  Orchardville ; 

G.  B.  Sanders,  Sparta ;  John  Walker,  Pulaski  County ;  John  T. 
Riggs,  Hardin  County ;   W.  D.  Green,  Marion  County. 

The  Illinois  Union  had  done  well  during  the  first  year  of  its 
history,  and  the  reports  show  that  considerable  progress  had  been 
made.  The  panic  which  affected  alike  the  grain  growers  as  well 
as  the  cotton  producers,  had  been  felt  in  the  State  as  well  as  in 
other  sections  of  the  country,  and  it,  too,  had  its  effect  upon  tlie 
LTnion  membership  in  Illinois  as  in  Georgia. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  239 

The  l^nion  in  this  State  has  its  o^rave  and  perplexing  problems 
as  it  has  in  every  State,  but  by  wise,  conservative  action  on  the 
part  of  the  membership,  these  problems  can  be  solved  to  the  benefit 
of  all.  No  clash  h.as  yet  occurred  to  mar  the  movement  in  Illinois, 
and  if  the  even  tenor  of  things  are  pursued,  as  they  should  be,  the 
farmers  of  that  State  can  and  will  reap  lasting  good  from  the 
Farmers'  Union. 

The  Union,  because  of  its  principles,  is  destined  to  capture  the 
West,  where  the  bulk  of  the  grain,  with  which  the  needs  of  the 
country  are  supplied,  are  grown.  The  grain  growers  and  the 
stock  raisers  are  as  much  entitled  to  fair  prices  for  their  products 
as  the  men  who  grow  the  cotton  supply  of  the  world.  Only  by 
organizing  can  thev  hope  to  compete  with  other  allied  and  organ- 
ized interests. 

The  people  of  Illinois  have  it  within  their  power  to  make  the 
Farmers'  Union,  in  the  Middle  West,  a  stronghold  from  which  to 
wage  war  in  behalf  of  equal  rights  for  the  merchant,  banker, 
the  professional  man  and  the  artisan  alike.  Will  Illinois  do  it? 
Her  sis-ter  States  will  look  to  her  as  a  leader,  and  Providence  has 
seeminglv  chosen  her  for  this  responsible  place.  Time  will  reveal 
the  success  desired  or  the  failure  which  all  should  pray  not  to  be 
visited  upc^ii  the  noblest  and  best  organization  that  it  has  ever 
been  the  farmer's  good  pleasure  to  have. 

W.  D.  Crews  gives  in  notes  some  interesting  facts.  Illinois  is 
an  old  veteran  in  the  work  of  farmers'  organizations.  The  Grange 
has  been  at  work  in  this  State  continuously  for  more  than  a  third 
of  a  century. 

The  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association  was  organized  in 
Southern  Illinois  about  the  year  1886,  and  did  good  work  until 
about  1890,  when  it  began  to  wane,  and  by  1892  had  all  died  out 
but  a  very  small  remnant,  which  continued  to  exist  until  about 
1901,  when  it  began  to  grow  again,  and  in  April,  1906,  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Farmers'  Social  and  Fconomic  Union  and  the 
Farmers'  Relief  Association. 

The  Farmers'  Alliance  was  strong  in  parts  of  Southern  Illinois, 
hi  the  early  nineties  of  the  past  century,  when  it  died  out  here,  as 
elsewhere. 

But  the  real  beginning  of  Fanners'  Union  in  Illinois  was  the 
organization  of  the  P'arniers'  Social  and  Economic  Union,  April  27, 
1900,  which  was  chartered  by  the  State  authorities  May  17  of  the 
same  year. 

The  first  State  officers  of  the  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic 
Union  were  :  President.  A.  T.  Cross  ;  Vice-President.  A.  G.  Crov  ; 


240  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Secretary,  E.  B.  Hunter;  Treasurer,  Josiah  Kimmel ;  Organizer^ 
W.  D.  Crews. 

Trustees  :  A.  J.  Cross,  President ;  E.  B.  Hunter,  Secretary,  and 
W.  I.  Deason,  C.  W.  Piper,  L.  R.  Breeden,  and  Josiah  Kimmel. 

The  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union  made  a  rapid  and 
solid  growth  for  a  few  years,  extending  into  Missouri  and  Ne- 
braska, and  deyeloping  up  to  what  was  called  a  Temporary  Na- 
tional Union. 

In  April,  1906,  the  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union,  the 
Farmers'  Relief  Association,  and  a  part  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual 
Benefit- Association,  were  consolidated  under  the  name  of  Farmers' 
Union.  The  last  set  of  national  officers  of  the  Farmers'  Social 
and  Economic  Union  were  as  follows :  President.  Scott  Crews ; 
Vice-President,  G.  B.  Sanders;  Secretary,  E.  B.  Hunter;  Treas- 
urer, A.  J.  Cross ;  Organizer,  T.  J.  Wolf ;  Editor,  W.  D.  Crews 
(all  of  Illinois),  and  Lecturer,  L  C.  Davis,  of  Missouri. 

Trustees :  George  S.  Rinehardt,  E.  B.  Hunter,  J.  C.  Davis,  and 
R.  M.  Dempsey  (all  of  Illinois),  and  David  Strubb,  of  Missouri. 

A  few  days  after  the  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Social  and 
Economic  Union,  another  nearby  community  of  farmers  organ- 
ized the  Farmers'  Relief  Association  (or  F.  R.  A.,  referred  to 
above).  This  made  a  good  growth  in  Southern  Illinois,  and  held 
its  separate  existence  until  consolidated  with  the  Farmers'  Social 
and  Economic  Union  and  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association 
into  the  Farmers'  Union,  April,  1906. 

The  national  officers  of  the  Farmers'  Union  (which  formerly 
had  headquarters  at  Pinckneyville,  Illinois,  1906,  was  afterward 
merged  into  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of 
America,  at  Marion.  March  27,  28,  1907),  were  as  follows  : 

President,  W.  A.  Bain,  Benton,  Illinois ;  Secretary,  E.  B. 
Hunter,  Murphysboro,  Illinois ;  Treasurer.  Harrison  White, 
Marion,  Illinois ;  Lecturer,  George  W.  Bennett,  Benton,  Illinois ; 
Organizer,  A.  H.  Evans,  Tamaroa,  Illinois ;  Editor,  W.  D.  Crews, 
DeSoto,  and  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Mortuary  Fund,  G.  W.  Ket- 
terman,  Ewing,  Illinois. 

Trustees :  George  W.  Bennett,  C.  L.  Miller,  Andrew  Shepherd, 
W.  A.  Bain,  and  E.  B.  Hunter  fall  of  Illinois),  and  John  G.  Wear, 
Poplar  Bluff,  Missouri. 

The  farmer's  emblem  and  label  was  first  adopted  by  the  Farm- 
ers' Social  and  Economic  Union  in  the  winter  of  1900-1901,  and 
first  printed  and  used  in  the  early  spring  of  1901,  the  first  design 
being  a  four-leaf  of  clover.  The  clover  leaf  design  was  also  the 
euTblem  and  label  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  which  was  merged  into 
the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  241 

The  design  was  suggested  and  the  label  first  used  by  W.  D. 
Crews. 

MISSOURI. 

The  Missouri  Farmers'  Union  had  its  beginning  at  Neosho.  The 
first  local  was  oranized  by  H.  N.  Ray,  and  was  called  at  Cedar 
Creek,  near  Joplin,  in  Jasper  county.  W.  A,  Albright  was  elected 
secretary.  The  name  of  the  first  president  of  this  local  was  lost 
in  some  of  the  misplaced  records. 

The  State  Union  was  organized  at  West  Plains,  March  22,  1907. 
John  G.  Wear  was  elected  President;  N.  H.  Summitt,  Vice- 
President  ;  L.  F.  Luthy,  Secretary ;  W.  W.  Fisher,  Organizer ; 
J.  T.  Barrett,  Business  Agent ;  J.  J.  Wilson,  Chaplain ;  William  B. 
Yount,  Doorkeeper;  A.  H.  Hughs,  Conductor;  James  Mcintosh, 
Sergeant-at-Arms ;  J.  A.  Miller^  J.  F.  Baker,  C.  M.  Gooch,  F.  M. 
Best,  and  W  B.  Yount,  Executive  Committee.  At  this  meeting 
twenty  counties  were  represented  by  delegates 

Th  executive  committee  called  a  special  meeting  of  the  State 
convention  in  Poplar  BluflF  August  12,  1907.  At  this  meeting 
twenty-one  counties  were  represented  by  sixty-one  delegates.  The 
purpose  for  which  this  special  meeting  was  called  was  the  election 
of  delegates  to  the  national  convention  at  Little  Rock. 

J.  G.  Wear,  State  President,  and  O.  L.  Paige  were  elected  dele- 
gates ;  N.  H.  Summitt  and  G.  B.  Myers,  alternates.  The  conven- 
tion passed  a  resolution  calling  upon  the  National  Union  to  take 
definite  action  in  fixing  the  price  of  wheat  and  corn.  This  resolu- 
tion suggested  one  dollar  per  bushel  for  wheat  and  fifty  cents  per 
bushel  for  corn  as  a  reasonable  minimum  to  be  set  by  the  national 
convention.  The  called  convention  also  requested  the  member- 
ship to  make  provisions  for  the  handling,  storing,  and  marketing 
of  wheat  and  corn.    The  parcels  post  was  endorsed. 

The  regular  annual  meeting  of  the  State  Union  was  held  at 
Springfield,  August  11,  12,  13,  1908.  Delegates  representing 
twenty-nine  counties  met  in  the  city  hall  at  Springfield  on  the 
morning  of  August  11,  and  the  convention  was  called  to  order 
by  State  President  J.  G.  Wear.  J.  G.  Eubanks,  of  Georgia,  ad- 
dressed the  convention  upon  the  necessity  of  co-operation.  He 
estimated  the  savings  to  the  people,  who  co-operated  through  the 
Farmers'  Union,  at  $1,008,000  for  the  year  passed,  and  stated  that 
there  was  a  saving  of  $25,000  per  month  to  the  membership  of 
Georgia  who  took  advantage  of  the  Business  Agent's  department 
of  that  State.  Ben  L.  Griffin,  of  Arkansas,  in  a  speech  recom- 
mended the  raising  of  home  supplies  wherever  the  Union  existed. 

A  total  of  $10,098.74  had  been  paid  into  the  State  treasury  since 

16 


242  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

the  organization  of  the  State  Union  at  West  Plains,  in  1907.  At 
the  ^^'est  Plains  meeting  twenty  counties  either  had  county  organi- 
zations or  local  Ulnions  organized  within  their  boundaries.  At 
this  meeting,  1908,  thirty-six  counties  were  either  organized  or 
had  local  Unions.  At  the  Springfield  meeting  it  developed  that 
there  were  16,836  members  of  the   Farmers'  Union  in  Missouri. 

Of  this  number,  11,543  were  male  members  in  good  standing, 
and  5.293  were  women.  This  membership  belonged  to  615  local 
Unions. 

W.  D.  Crews,  of  Illinois,  with  others,  discussed  the  advisability 
of  a  newspaper  for  the  Union,  A  business  agent's  department  was 
endorsed. 

N.  H.  Summitt,  of  Dunklin  County,  was  elected  President;  John 
A.  Miller,  East  Prairie,  Vice-President;  L.  F.  Luthy,  Lebanon, 
Secretary-Treasurer ;  J.  W.  Shaw,  Pontiac,  Organizer  and  Lec- 
turer; J.  E.  Fulkerson,  Lebanon,  State  Business  Agent;  S.  F. 
Green,  Dunklin  County,  Chaplain ;  A.  J.  Rich,  Shannon  County, 
Conductor,  and  A.  P.  Russell,  Ripley  County,  Sergeant-at-Arms. 
The  Executive  Committee  as  elected,  consisted  of  C.  M.  Gooch, 
Ripley  County;  J.  F.  Baker,  Bates  County;  William  B.  Yount, 
Bollinger  County ;  M.  B.  Peters,  Howell  County,  and  R.  M, 
Rubottom,  Wayne  County.  T.  J.  Douglas,  Dunklin  County,  and 
J.  ]\L  Bowers,  Wayne  County,  were  elected  delegates  to  the 
National  LTnion  at  Ft.  Worth. 

Missouri  is  made  up  of  an  excellent  class  of  farmers  who  are 
progressive  and  alert,  and  the  State  officials  believe  that  great 
things  will  be  accomplished  by  the  movement.  The  work  in  Mis- 
souri gives  promise  of  great  future  progress,  as  the  State  officials 
are  busily  pushing  it,  and  much  will  be  heard  from  the  workings 
of  the  Union  in  that  State.  The  Society  of  Equity  ha?  long  been 
a  leading  organization  in  this  and  other  Western  States,  and  the 
people  are  alive  to  organized  movements.  Missouri  was  one  of 
the  leading  States  during  the  days  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  and 
but  for  the  political  tendencies  of  the  Alliance  would  have  adhered 
to  the  order. 

Sketches  of  the  President  and  other  officials  are  given  elsewhere, 
and  from  a  perusal  of  the  same  the  reader  can  get  some  idea  of 
the  class  and  character  of  the  men  who  compose  the  Farmers' 
Union  in  Missouri. 

COLORADO. 

"Westward  the  empire  of  state  takes  its  course,"'  is  a  terse  and 
striking  epigram  once  heard  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  republic. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  243 

Emig^rants  from  all  sections  poured  across  the  Ohio  and  the 
Mississippi  on  their  way  to  settle  in  the  rich  prairie  lands  of  the 
West.  These  emigrants  had  but  little  of  this  world's  g-oods,  but 
they  had  abundant  faith  in  the  future  of  the  country  they  were 
on  their  way  to  settle. 

They  traveled  into  this  boundless  prairie  waste  in  wagons,  called 
prairie  schooners,  and  carried  their  earthly  belongings  with  them 
in  their  wagons,  farm  tools,  household  goods,  and  seed  for  the 
crop,  which  they  expected  to  grow.  State  ater  State  was  settled 
in  this  manner,  and  there  grew  up  a  hardy  and  independent  class 
of  farmers,  who  laid  the  foundation  of  one  of  the  greatest  sections 
of  this  country. 

The  same  epigram  might  be  appropriately  used  in  connection 
with  the  spread  of  the  Farmers'  Union  into  this  rich  farming  sec- 
tion of  the  West. 

T.  W.  Goodrow  organized  the  lirst  Farmers'  Union  in  the  State 
of  Colorado  at  Langdon,  Teller  county,  in  July,  1907.  Seven 
members  joined  at  this  meeting.  The  local  was  given  the  name  of 
Crystola.  Charles  S.  Simmons  was  elected  President,  and  J.  W. 
Vandevcnter  Secretary.  While  the  beginning  was  small,  the  mem- 
bership was  enthusiastic,  and  the  work  begun  in  Teller  county 
was  soon  being  pushed  into  other  sections  of  the  State. 

The  State  Union  was  organized  April  17,  1908,  or  less  than  one 
year  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  first  local  Union. 
George  B.  Lang  was  elected  President ;  J.  F.  Brewer,  Vice-Presi- 
dent;  H.  S.  Stovall,  Secretary;  A.  S.  Manning,  Treasurer;  Pardon 
Sayles,  Organizer ;  J.  W.  Vande venter.  Statistician ;  W.  V.  Gal- 
lagher, Conductor ;  Fred  Ruing,  Doorkeeper,  and  V»'".  R.  Calli- 
cotte.  Chaplain.  ]\Iilas  X.  Johnson  was  elected  delegate  to  the 
National  Convention.  The  following:  F.  I.  Urquhart,  H.  H. 
Schafifer,  S.  Wilmoth,  F.  W.  Wilson,  J.  L.  Thomson,  were  elected 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  work  is  growing  in  the  State,  and  Colorado  gives  promise 
of  great  things  in  the  future.  Her  melons  and  cantaloupes  are 
known  everywhere,  and  these  by  the  wise  guidance  of  the  members 
of  the  Farmers'  Union,  will  come  to  be  handled  in  a  manner  that 
will  yield  a  living  profit  for  the  people  of  the  goodly  State. 

The  growth  of  the  Union  has  been  satisfactory,  and  at  the 
present  rate  will  soon  include  a  majority  of  the  farmers.  Still 
westward  toward  the  setting  sun  moves  the  ranks  of  the  order, 
and  other  States  are  falling  into  line. 


244 


MISSION,   HISTORY   AND  TI>IES 


STATP:  officials  and  ex-state  officials,  TENNESSEE  DIVISION. 

1.  A.  A.  Wkbh,  Ex-Secretary  State  Executive  Committee. 

2.  T.  N.  Ei'i'KKSON,  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 

3.  W.  II.  KiroiMvS,  Member  Slate  Executive  Committee. 

4.  W.  (;.  riciiKiNS,  Ex-Member  State  Executive  Committee. 

5.  G.  G.  Jaruell,  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  245 

The  progress  of  the  Union  has  been  truly  marvelous.  The 
State  owns  a  coal  mine  at  Aquillan,  and  it  is  said  the  mine  is 
saving  the  Union  people  of  Colorado  $400  per  day.  In  addition 
to  the  coal  mine,  the  Union  owns  a  flour  mill,  located  at  Glen- 
wood.  The  excellent  results  obtained  from  the  operation  of  this 
mill  is  so  satisfactory  that  others  will  either  be  bought  or  built. 
The  Union  also  owns  and  operates  a  creamery  at  Pueblo,  and  a 
broom  factory  at  Rocky  Ford. 

WASHINGTON. 

In  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of  the  United  States,  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  British  possessions  and  the  west  by  the  waters 
of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  lies  the  State  of  Washington.  Only  a  few 
years  ago  it  was  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  territorial  provinces.  The 
country  was  but  sparsely  settled  and  cattle  raising  was  the  chief 
occupation.  It  was  discovered,  however,  that  its  soil  would  pro- 
duce wheat  in  abundance,  and  settlers  from  all  sections  of  the 
United  States  moved  into  Washington  and  began  building  a  State. 

One  of  the  settlers  who  moved  into  Washington  after  it  was  a 
State  was  H.  D.  G.  Cox,  who  had  spent  some  years  in  the  State 
of  Florida.  While  in  Florida  he  was  a  subscriber  to  a  Southern 
newspaper,  which  he  continued  to  take  after  his  removal  to  Wash- 
ington. In  this  paper  he  read  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  be- 
came interested.  He  wrote  to  the  officials  of  the  Union  lor  informa- 
tion. Upon  the  receipt  of  this  information  he  began  to  talk 
Farmers'  Union.  A  few  became  interested.  For  more  than  a 
year  he  kept  on  telling  the  people  about  the  Farmers'  Union.  The 
result  of  his  agitation  was  that  C.  S.  Barrett  was  invited  to  Waits- 
burg  for  the  purpose  of  starting  the  work. 

Accordingly,  on  April  17,  1907,  the  first  local  Union  was  organ- 
ized at  Waitsburg,  Walla  Walla  County,  Washington,  by  C.  S. 
Barrett.  The  Prescott  local  Union  was  organized  at  the  same  time 
and  place  by  the  same  organizer.  Thirty-seven  members  were 
initiated  into  the  Waitsburg  Local  Union,  and  fifteen  into  the 
Prescott  Union.  N.  B.  Atkinson  of  Waitsburg  was  elected  Presi- 
dent, and  H.  J.  Alurphy,  Secretary-Treasurer. 

The  Washington  .State  Union  was  organized  June  15,  1908,  at 
Pullman  by  C.  S.  Barrett,  and  was  the  first  State  organization  west 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  convention  was  made  up  of  dele- 
gates representing  more  than  7,000  members.  Taking  this  as  a 
basis,  the  growth  of  the  Union  in  the  State  of  Washington  has 


246  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

been  very  remarkable.  This  convention  took  steps  looking  to  the 
planting  of  the  Union  in  adjoining  States. 

The  officers  of  Washington  are :  N.  B.  Atkinson,  Waitsburg, 
President ;  Milan  Still,  LaCrosse,  Vice-President ;  A.  D.  Cross, 
St.  Andrews,  Douglas  County,  Secretary ;  Robert  Brumblay, 
Waitsburg,  Chaplain  ;  A.  A.  Elmore,  Waitsburg,  State  Organizer; 
J.  M.  Martin,  Dusty,  Whitman  County,  Conductor;  J.  C.  Farr, 
Albion,  Doorkeeper;  J.  R.  Day,  Ilo,  Idaho;  J.  M.  Reid,  Pullman, 
Wash.,  and  Phil  W.  Cox,  Colfax,  Wash.,  Directors ;  H.  D.  G.  Cox, 
Walla  Walla,  Wash.,  Delegate  to  National  Convention. 

The  farmers  of  Washington  are  building  grain  warehouses  and 
these  piomise  to  be  very  successful.  The  reports  that  come  from 
Washington  by  way  of  the  press  show  how  rapidly  the  warehouse 
idea  of  the  Farmers'  Union  is  taking  hold  in  that  State.  N.  B. 
Atkinson,  the  State  President,  says  that  practically  all  the  grain  of 
his  State  will  be  handled  through  the  warehouses  of  the  Farmers' 
Union. 

The  joint  committee  of  Washington  and  Idaho  recommended 
that  the  State  Railway  Commission  be  empowered  to  grant  ware- 
house sites  along  transportation  lines  where  it  was  deemed  neces- 
sary. This  committee  heartily  endorsed  improvement  of  rivers 
and  harbors  along  the  Northwest  coast,  and  insisted  that  the  next 
session  of  the  State  Legislature  of  Washington  repeal  the  law  of 
1907,  which  exempted  money  and  money  securities  from  taxation. 

The  committee  on  terminal  elevators  recommended  that  the 
Union  secure  terminals  at  tidewater  for  depositories  of  elevators 
at  interior  points.  The  reason  given  is  the  one  quoted  below  :  *We 
feel  that  with  elevators  along  the  lines  of  railroads  of  the  Inland 
Empire,  and  with  no  terminals  that  we  are  helpless  and  in  the 
power  of  the  terminal  companies."  The  committee  on  co-operative 
insurance  recommended  a  plan  of  mutual  fire  insurance  for  the 
Union  membership  only.  R.  C.  McCroskev  was  appointed  to  in- 
vestigate the  handling  and  shipping  of  grain,  and  was  instructed 
to  publish  the  same  under  the  auspices  of  the  Washington  State 
Farmers'  Union. 

The  Farmers'  Union  of  Washington  conceived  the  plan  of  buy- 
ing jute  grain  bags  direct  from  the  importers.  They  also  secured 
a  twenty-five  per  cent  reduction  of  freight  rates  on  bags  in  carload 
lots.  By  these  two  movements  alone,  the  grain  producers  of  tlie 
States  of  Washington,  Oregon,  and  Idaho,  were  saved  $200,0000 
over  conditions  prevailing  the  year  before. 

Recently  N.  B.  Adkinson  resigned  as  president,  and  L.  C.  Crow 
of  Palouse  was  elected  by  the  executive  committee  to  succeed  him. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  '247 


FLORIDA. 


The  first  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  the  State  of 
Florida  was  begun  by  J.  Guy  Smith,  of  Arkansas.  The  first  local 
Union  was  organized  in  the  Western  section  of  the  State,  not  far 
from  Tallahassee.  The  records  of  the  first  local  Union  have  been 
lost,  and  the  names  of  the  first  officers  cannot  be  given. 

The  State  organization  was  perfected  at  Tallahassee  Jwly  15. 
1907.  G.  N.  Trawick  was  elected  President,  and  J.  R.  Anderson 
Secretary-Treasurer.  The  second  convention  met  in  Lake  City,  July 
15,  1908.  This  convention  considered  the  price  of  long  staple  cot- 
ton, and  the  best  methods  of  marketing  fruit  and  vegetables.  They 
passed  resolutions  condemning  foreign  immigration  ard  endorsing 
a  better  system  of  rural  and  agricultural  schools.  Owing  to  the 
diversified  interests  of  the  State,  the  last  convention  divided  the 
State  into  three  business  districts,  i.  c,  the  upland  cotton  district, 
the  sea  island  cotton  district,  and  the  vegetable  district.  The  present 
State  officials  are  now  engaged  in  perfecting  plans  for  the  organ- 
ization of  a  Union  stock  company  in  each  district  for  the  purpose 
of  co-operation  in  buying  supplies  and  in  marketing  the  produce 
of  tlie  farmers. 

The  following  officials  were  elected :  M.  S.  Knight,  President, 
Lake  City ;  C.  E.  Pledger,  Vice-President,  Marianna ;  J.  R.  Pum- 
phrey,  Secretary-Treasurer,  Wewahitcka ;  S.  W.  Locke,  Organizer, 
Bon;tay. 

The  work  m  Florida  has  been  carried  on  under  adverse  circum- 
stances. There  are  many  good  and  loyal  Union  members  in  the 
State  who  are  doing  all  they  can  for  the  success  of  the  order,  but 
there  are  some  disappointments,  and  there  had  been  some  dissen- 
sions. These,  however,  are  passing  away,  and  Florida  will  come 
to  the  front  as  a  Union  State. 

Warehouses  have  been  built  at  several  points  in  the  State,  and 
have  received  the  support  of  the  membership.  These  warehouses 
have  enabled  the  farmers  to  store  their  long  staple  cotton  and  hold 
for  reasonable  prices.  Florida  is  largely  a  truck-growing  State, 
and  many  of  the  people  devote  their  entire  time  to  trucking.  The 
Union  has  been  able  to  give  but  a  small  amount  of  aid  to  this 
feature  of  farming,  but  as  the  order  grows  stronger  and  spreads 
to  every  agricultural  section  of  the  country,  much  more  aid  can 
be  given. 

Great  things  are  to  be  expected  of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  the 
land  of  flowers.  In  the  future  combinations  can  be  formed  with 
the  truck-growing  interests  in  other  sections  of  the  L'^nited  States, 
and  when  this  is  accomplished,  Florida  will  receive  material  aid 


248  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

from  the  Union.  In  the  production  of  sea  island  cotton  she  has 
but  httle  competition.  The  southern  part  of  Georgia  and  the 
eastern  section  of  South  CaroHna  are  growers  of  long  staple  cotton. 
The  growers  in  these  three  States  have  well  nigh  a  monopoly  on 
long  cotton. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  farmers  is  the  best  ever  known. 
They  seem  to  be  the  only  people  whom  the  panic  did  not  seriously 
effect.  A  Florida  paper  gives  an  account  of  how  a  business  house 
was  saved  by  the  farmers.  According  to  the  paper  a  business 
house  held  a  lot  of  notes  against  the  farmers.  The  house  was 
seriously  embarrassed  for  lack  of  money  to  carry  on  its  business. 
An  offer  was  made  by  the  house  to  discount  the  notes  at  five  per 
cent  if  paid  before  maturity.  Every  farmer,  except  one,  imme- 
diately discounted  his  note. 

The  last  convention  elected  an  Executive  Committee  who  are 
looking  after  the  business  interests  of  the  State.  The  Executive 
Committee  as  elected  is  composed  of  J.  A.  Jackson,  Jasper;  Eric 
Von  Alexson,  Laurel  Hill ;  J.  L.  Sheppard,  Greensboro ;  A.  L. 
Buchanan,  Smith  Creek,  and  W.  M.  Hays,  Alachua. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 

The  Old  North  State,  as  North  Carolina  has  been  called,  was 
slow  to  avail  itself  of  the  opportunity  to  organize  under  the  leader- 
ship of  the  Farmers'  Union.  .Some  time  in  the  latter  part  of  1905, 
S.  H.  Colwick,  of  Texas,  found  his  way  into  Cleveland  County, 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State,  and  began  to  talk  to  the 
farmers  about  organizing.  He  met  with  strong  opposition,  but 
later  organized  a  local  Union  at  Boiling  Springs,  Cleveland  County, 
with  sixteen  members,  one  more  than  the  constitutional  number 
necessary  to  secure  a  charter.  The  name  of  the  first  President 
of  this  Union  has  been  lost  from  the  records.  R.  L.  Pruett  was 
elected  Secretary-Treasurer.  A  few  other  local  Unions  were 
organized  in  and  around  this  same  section,  but  not  enough  to  be 
of  any  considerable  force. 

In  the  summer  of  1907,  W.  A.  Morris,  of  Alabama,  one  of  the 
National  Board  of  Directors,  was  sent  into  North  Carolina  for 
the  purpose  of  creating  an  interest  in  the  work,  and  reviving  some 
of  the  Unions.  In  October,  1907,  G.  W.  Fant,  of  Texas,  was  ap- 
pointed State  Organizer  of  North  Carolina.  He  began  his  work 
under  unfavorable  conditions.  The  people  were  not  favorably  in- 
clined to  the  Union  and  knew  nothing  of  its  purposes  and  objects. 
There  were  less  than  a  thousand  members,  and  these  were  half- 
hearted and  lukewarm  in  their  support. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  249 

The  first  State  Convention  was  called  to  meet  in  the  city  of 
Charlotte  on  April  i,  1908.  This  convention  remained  in  session 
three  days  and  adopted  a  constitution  and  by-laws.  Plans  for 
carrying-  on  the  work  were  laid  and  policies  were  outlined.  The 
convention  was  one  of  the  most  harmonious  ever  held.  The  dele- 
gates were  highly  pleased,  and  in  their  enthusiasm  determined  to 
prosecute  the  work  to  the  fullest  extent. 

Dr.  H.  Q.  Alexander,  of  Matthews,  Mecklenburg  County,  was 
elected  President ;  A.  C.  Shuford,  of  Catawba  County,  was  elected 
Vice-President ;  E.  C.  Faires,  of  King's  Mountain,  Cleveland 
County,  Secretary-Treasurer ;  Rev.  A.  C.  Davis,  of  Union  County, 
Chaplain ;  Earnest  Cansler,  of  Lincoln  County,  Doorkeeper ;  D.  A. 
Stroup,  Gaston  County,  Conductor;  U.  S.  G.  Phillips,  of  Cherokee 
County,  Sergeant-at-Arms ;  R.  B.  Hunter,  of  Mecklenburg  County, 
Lecturer,  and  J.  E.  C,  Ford,  of  Gaston  County,  Organizer.  The 
following  Executive  Committee  was  elected :  P.  P.  W.  Plyler, 
J.  J.  Logan,  Orson  Morrow,  D.  A.  Randolph  and  T.  F.  Cornwell. 

The  first  local  L^nion  organized  in  North  Carolina,  Boiling- 
Springs,  now  has  a  membership  of  twelve  paid  up  members,  and 
is  still  doing  good  work.  There  are  now  more  than  10,000  mem- 
bers in  the  State  and  over  467  chartered  local  Unions.  The  mem- 
bership is  steadily  increasing,  and  it  is  predicted  that  before  the 
organization  is  a  year  old  that  there  will  be  a  membership  of  20,000 
to  25,000,  The  warehouse  idea  has  taken  firm  hold  in  North 
Carolina,  and  will  furnish  the  Union  a  medium  by  which  cotton 
can  be  stored  and  financed. 

The  Union  is  putting  forth  every  effort  to  get  the  membership 
to  diversify  and  rotate  their  crops  so  as  to  rid  themselves  of  the 
burden  of  debt.  North  Carolina,  too,  is  cursed  by  the  vampire, 
debt,  among  her  farming  class,  and  the  sooner  the  people  learn 
the  lesson  of  LTnionism,  the  better  for  them. 

Recently  the  State  Convention  met  in  Monroe  and  re-elected  all 
the  old  officers  except  R.  B.  Hunter,  Lecturer.  This  office  was 
consolidated  with  the  organizing  department,  and  J.  Z.  Green  was 
put  in  charge.  In  the  Executive  Committee  there  were  two 
changes,  W.  G.  Crowder  and  J-  P.  Coggins  being  elected.  H.  S. 
Robinson  was  elected  Business  Agent. 

KENTUCKY. 

Kentucky,  styled  the  dark  and  bloody  hunting  ground,  where 
the  blue  grass  grows  in  profusion  and  blooded  horses  are  the  rule ; 
where  the  people  take  an  especial  pride  in  good  roads  and  good 
homes,  and  good  schools,  was  a  difficult  proposition  when  it  came 


250  MISSION.    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

to  organizing-  the  Farmers'  Union.  The  people  who  were  growers 
of  grain  and  tobacco  felt  that  if  they  belonged  to  an  organization 
that  had  for  its  prime  object  the  pricing  of  cotton,  that  they  would 
get  very  little  benefit  out  of  it.  Owing  to  the  existence  of  this  feel- 
ing, the  work  progressed  slowly.  The  organizers  were  opposed  in 
every  quarter,  and  but  for  their  pluck  and  determination,  they 
would  have  been  driven  from  the  State. 

The  first  local  Union  was  organized  in  Carlisle  County,  May 
9,  1906,  by  R.  L.  Barnett.  Seven  men  and  three  ladies  joined 
at  this  meeting.  The  local  was  given  the  name  of  Glenview,  and 
S.  A.  Hinckey  was  elected  President,  and  Henry  JMabry  Secretary. 

The  State  Union  was  organized  at  Paducah,  August  7,  1908. 
Delegates  from  a  number  of  counties  met  in  Paducah  on  the 
morning  of  August  6,  and  enthusiastically  marched  through  the 
streets  of  the  city.  These  marchers  were  very  enthusiastic,  and 
created  considerable  interest  among  the  onlookers.  From  the  river 
front  to  the  meeting  place,  crowds  lined  the  streets  down  which 
the  delegates  and  members  of  the  Farmers'  Union  went.  This 
parade  was  the  first  of  the  kind  ever  seen  in  Paducah,  and  was 
an  ocular  demonstration  that  the  farmers  of  Kentucky  were  fully 
determined  to  keep  step  with  the  modern  march  of  progress  in 
this  country.  The  demonstration  was  in  nowise  intended  as  an 
intimidation  of  others'  rights  or  interests,  but  was  a  declaration 
to  all  that  the  farmers  were  intensely  in  earnest. 

The  convention  was  well  attende'd,  and  the  delegation  made 
provision  for  prosecuting  the  work  on  a  more  extensive  scale. 
Every  section  of  the  State  w-as  to  be  invaded  by  organizers,  and 
local  Unions  established  wherever  it  was  possible  to  found  one. 

The  convention  adopted  a  constitution  and  by-laws,  and  elected 
Robert  Johnson,  of  Tolu,  President ;  A.  L.  Wilson,  Hickory  Grove, 
Vice-President;  R.  L.  Barnett,  Paducah,  Secretary-Treasurer;  W. 
W.  Morris,  Chaplain ;  J.  U.  Robertson,  Conductor,  and  J.  C.  Den- 
ton, Doorkeeper.  Executive  Committee ;  V.  Luke  Thomas,  Fol- 
somdale ;  Sam  H.  Jones,  Cunningham  ;  John  Grady,  Calvert  City  ; 
T.  B.  Letta,  Fulton,  and  M.  B.  Tapp,  Woodville,  were  also  elected. 

Since  the  meeting  of  the  State  Convention,  the  work  has  gone 
forward  under  the  direction  of  the  officials  in  a  very  satisfactory- 
manner.  New  locals  are  being  organized,  and  many  plans  devised 
for  the  betterment  of  the  entire  farming  class  throughout  the  State. 
That  the  Union  is  bound  to  succeed  in  Kentucky  no  one  doubts. 

IOWA,  OREGON,   IDAHO,  VIRGINIA,   AND  CALIFORNIA. 

The  Farmers'  Union  was  planted  in  Iowa  September  17,  1907, 
at  Ruthven,  Palo  Alto  County,  by  G.  M.  Davis,  of  Georgia     The 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  251 

first  local  Union  had  fifty-six  members.  Lyman  T.  IJarringer,  oi 
Ruthven,  was  elected  President  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  State 
work  by  the  National  Board  of  Directors.  No  other  locals  were 
organized,  and  the  one  at  Ruthven  continued  for  a  while  and  died. 
At  the  present  time  Iowa  has  no  efifective  organization. 

Many  causes  transpired  to  discourage  the  one  local  Union. 
There  existed  a  system  of  co-operative  grain  elevators,  and  many 
of  those  who  were  interested  in  these  did  not  see  the  benefit  of 
another  farmers'  organization.  The  State  Organizer  was  in  bad 
health  and  could  not  push  the  work,  and  the  organizers  from  out- 
side the  State  did  not  wish  to  risk  an  efifort  to  line  up  Iowa  for  the 
Union. 

The  Union  in  the  adjoining  States  of  Illinois  and  Kansas  and 
Missouri  are  live  ones,  and  at  no  distant  day  organizers  from 
some  of  these  States  will  push  their  way  into  Iowa  and  perfect  an 
efifective  organization. 

Oregon  and  Idaho  are  two  new  States  in  Farmers'  Union 
matters.  Organizers  are  pushing  their  way  into  these  States. 
Year  by  year  the  circle  will  widen  and  other  Unions  open  up  to 
help  swell  the  number.  For  the  people  along  the  Pacific  coast  do 
things  when  they  start. 

The  Idaho  membership,  owing  to  the  peculiar  geographical  sit- 
uation of  territory  where  local  Unions  are  organized,  has  gone  in 
with  Washington,  and  now  comprises  a  part  of  the  Washington 
State  Union.  The  work  in  Idaho  will,  too,  make  progress  as  con- 
ditions are  favorable  for  the  growth  of  the  Union  there. 

VIRGINIA. 

Recently  B.  F.  Earle,  of  Anderson,  South  Carolina,  was  sent 
into  Virginia  for  the  purpose  of  inaugurating  the  work  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  in  that  State.  Earle  has  had  considerable  ex- 
perience in  the  organizing  work,  he  having  done  most  of  it  in 
South  Carolina.  Earle  was  sent  to  Virginia  at  the  earnest  solicita- 
tion of  the  people  of  Virginia  for  an  organizer.  The  work  is  being 
carried  on  around  Lawrenceville,  where  several  small  local  Unions 
have  been  organized. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Far  to  the  westward,  skirting  the  Pacific,  lies  the  Golden  State 
of  California,  noted  for  her  wheat,  peaches,  grapes,  and  oranges, 
all  of  which,  grow  as  if  the  beneficent  Creator  has  bestowed  on  this 
land  of  the  sunset,  the  gold  of  the  Orient  as  well  as  that  of  the 
Occident.     Here  in  this  goodlv  state   the  Farmers'  Union  has 


262  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

been  planted  and  through  many  hardships  has  kept  aUve,  and  today 
is  beginning  to  grow. 

For  a  long  time  about  one  hundred  faithful  members  kept  alive 
the  flickering  spark  of  Unionism  about  Fresno  City,  but  it  was  a 
hard  struggle,  with  many  discouraging  features.  One  faithful, 
persistent  worker,  J.  M.  Kneeland,  of  Kingsburg  Lx)cal  Union,  No. 
3,  worked  on  when  thousands  less  faithful  than  he  would  have 
given  up  the  fight  long  ago  and  acknowledged  their  defeat,  but 
not  so  with  Kneeland.  He  never  knew  when  he  was  defeated. 
His  faith  in  the  success  of  the  Union  kept  his  courage  up  when 
every  obstacle  seemed  to  be  in  the  way  and  every  hindrance  pre- 
sented itself. 

California  now  has  more  than  two  thousand  members,  and  is 
beginning  to  grow  in  good  style.  A  thousand  members  have  been 
taken  in  within  the  past  three  months,  and  from  sections  inquiries 
are  coming  in  that  leads  to  the  belief  that  California  will  soon  have 
a  State  Organization. 

The  Kingsburg  local  now  has  some  seventy  members,  all  en- 
thusiastic and  aggressive.  Paris  Henderson,  formerly  of  Kansas, 
and  one  time  Vice-President  of  that  State,  resides  near  Fresno 
City,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Kingsburg  Union.  California  gives 
promise  of  great  progress,  and  the  future  is  bright  for  growth. 

No  more  loyal  or  devoted  membership  ever  belonged'  to  any 
organization  than  those  who  reside  in  the  States  bordering  the 
Pacific,  and  California  is  among  that  number.  Long  may  she 
prosper ! 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  253 


CHAPTER  XXIII 


CLOSING  CHAPTER  ON  STATE  ORGANIZATION— SOME  HISTORY 
OF  EFFORT  TO  OBTAIN  MINIMUM  PRICE— TWO  VALU- 
ABLE PRODUCTS— WAREHOUSES  VALUABLE  ADJUNCTS- 
DIVERSIFICATION— LEGISLATION  DEMANDED— TROUBLE. 

IN  closing  the  history  of  the  State  Organizations  of  which 
the  National  body  is  made  up,  and  is  but  the  servant  to  carry 
out  the  expressed  wishes  of  the  States,  a  general  summary 
is  admissible,  and  for  that  reason  I  devote  the  following  chapter 
to  a  general  treatment  of  all  the  States.  It  is,  in  brief,  a  bird's  eye 
view  of  the  salient  features  treated  in  several  of  the  preceding 
chapters. 

The  reader  can,  in  studying  this  chapter,  get,  so  to  speak,  a 
line  on  many  of  the  important  events  that  will  be  a  help  to  him. 

The  effort  of  the  Farmers'  Union  to  name  and  abide  by  a  mini- 
mum price  at  which  it  would  sell  the  great  staple  products  of  the  ■ 
farm,  is  the  feature  which,  more  than  anything  else,  has  brought 
the  organization  prominently  into  public  notice. 

It  was  late  in  the  fall  following  the  Fort  Worth  Convention  of 
1904  that  the  Union  first  undertook  to  name  a  minimum  price  at 
which  it  would  sell  farm  products.  The  organization  had  not  at 
that  time  gone  outside  the  cotton  belt,  and  its  first  experiment  was 
to  name  ten  cents  a  pound  as  the  lowest  price  at  which  its  members 
should  sell  middling  cotton.  Cotton  had  fallen  slightly  below  ten 
cents  at  the  time  this  action  was  taken. 

On  December  17  every  County  Union  met  and  ratified  the  ten- 
cent  minimum.  Cotton  continued  to  go  down,  reaching  seven  cents 
in  January,  1905,  and  did  not  get  back  to  ten  cents  until  the  June 
following,  when  much  of  the  crop  had  been  sold.  Many  who  were 
unable  to  wait,  had  to  let  their  cotton  go,  but  those  who  held  on 
got  the  price,  and  the  Union  regarded  this  as  a  signal  victory  in 
its  first  fight  for  a  minimum  price. 

It  is  this  effort  which  has  brought  against  the  organization  the 
charge  that  it  is  a  combination  in  restrain  of  trade,  when  its  whole 
law  and  spirit  are  supposed  to  be  anti-trust.  Again  the 
farmer  contends  that  he  has  equal  right  with  the  merchant  and  the 


254 


MISSION.    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


PHOMINENT    WOUKEUS,    TENNESSEE    DIVISION. 

1.  B.  G.  West,  M.inager  for  big  Warehouse  Company. 

2.  J.  H.  McDowell. 

3.  Dn.   II.  I'.  IIUDSO.N,  Ex-Member  State  Executive  Committee. 

4.  J.  D.  Newton.  5.  C.  C.  Adams. 


OF   THE    farmers"    UNION.  255 

manufacturer  to  put  his  own  price  upon  his  own  product,  and  to 
combine,  if  necessary,  to  get  it.  He  denies  any  effort  to  subvert 
the  law  of  supply  and  demand,  and  says  he  rather  seeks  to  counter- 
act such  subversion  as  is  chargeable  to  the  middlemen  and  the 
exchange.  He  insists  that  he  aims  solely  at  intelligent  marketing 
of  the  crop,  such  as  will  prevent  a  glut  in  the  market,  and  conse- 
quent depreciation  in  price  for  which  the  economic  law  can  in  no 
way  be  held  responsible.  That  such  depreciation  comes  following 
heavy  receipts  is  undeniable. 

At  Texarkana,  both  in  1905  and  1906,  the  Union  fixed  the  mini- 
mum price  of  middling  cotton  at  eleven  cents.  In  September,  1905, 
when  the  action  was  taken,  it  was  selling  in  the  New  York  spot 
market  at  10.95c,  and  subsequently  in  December,  went  as  high  as 
12.60C.  In  September,  1906,  it  was  quoted  at  9.80c.  It  did  not 
get  to  iTc  until  the  spring  following,  when  it  went  above  the  mini- 
mum, and  between  May  and  September,  1907,  ranged  from  11.90c 
to  13.55c,  the  price  prevailing  when  the  convention  of  1907  was 
called  to  order. 

Encouraged  by  two  successes  in  tvv^o  successive  years,  and  elated 
over  what  to  it  seemed  its  power  to  control  the  price,  the  Union  at 
Little  Rock,  in  1907,  fixed  the  minimum  price  for  the  sale  of  cotton, 
at  15c,  althoug'h  the  staple  was  then  selling  at  13.55c,  the  highest 
price  known  since  March,  1904.  when  a  big  speculative  movement 
carried  it  for  the  moment  to  i6c.  The  crop  year  had  just  closed 
with  a  record  of  13,550,760  bales,  and  the  prospect  of  13.55c  in  the 
face  of  a  crop  like  that  seemed  all  that  could  be  desired.  This 
action  of  the  Union  was  criticized  at  the  time  as  radical  and  ex- 
treme, but  prosperity  was  at  its  height,  there  was  a  big  demand, 
and  there  seemed  no  apparent  reason  why  it  should  not  go  to  that 
figure.  No  human  foresight  could  have  anticipated  the  financial 
stringency.  Then  came  the  panic,  and  cotton,  along  with  every- 
thing else,  was  materially  affected.  It  went  down  rapidly,  reach- 
ing in  the  spring  of  1908  a  point  around  8c,  but  little  more  than 
half  the  Union  demand.  It  has  since  recovered  and  gone  as  high 
as  I2C.  Men  who  might  have  gotten  13c  and  over  for  their  cotton 
early  in  the  season,  held  it  for  15c;  thousands,  finally  forced  to  sell 
to  meet  their  obligations,  pocketed  their  losses,  but  still  remained 
otherwise  loyal  to  the  organization.  The  warehouse  system,  now 
being  rapidly  perfected,  will  render  such  occurrences  in  the  future 
impossible. 

The  Farmers'  Union  is  working  for  the  future  as  well  as  for  the 
present,  and  each  failure  to  attain  our  complete  ends  is  a  lesson 
guaranteeing  further  success  next  time. 


256  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

As  the  Union  made  its  way  into  the  grain  States  of  the  Middle 
West,  it  added  grain  to  the  products  on  which  it  set  a  minimum 
price.  At  Little  Rock,  in  1907,  the  following  prices,  among  others, 
were  fixed:  Wheat,  $1  per  bushel;  corn,  50c;  oats,  35c;  cotton 
seed,  $20  per  ton.  It  has  been  the  boast  of  the  Union  officials  that 
the  members  have  always  secured  their  prices  on  these  products. 

One  of  the  ultimate  objects  of  the  Union  in  working  towards 
the  point  where  it  can,  within  certain  bounds,  control  prices,  is  to 
establish  direct  trade  relations  between  the  producer  and  the  spin- 
ner. The  producer  seeks  to  get  rid  of  the  middleman  and  his 
profits,  and,  chiefly,  of  the  speculator,  whom  he  regards  as  his 
foremost  enemy.-  Hence  the  Union  has  vigorously  fought  future 
dealing  in  all  the  States  in  which  it  is  organized,  and  it  looks  for 
the  ultimate  elimination  of  all  purely  speculative  features  from  the 
exchanges,  or  their  suppression.  The  spinner,  on  the  other  hand, 
insists  upon  retaining  the  middleman,  or  some  agency  just  as  good 
as  he  must  deal  with  a  responsible  party.  It  is  hkewise  desirous 
of  keeping  the  exchange  as  a  "hedging"  medium,  though  he  ex- 
presses himself  as  anxious  as  anyone  else  to  eliminate  the  destruc- 
tive gambling  element.  These  two  attitudes  were  strikingly 
brought  out  in  the  international  cotton  conference  held  in  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  in  October,  1907.  The  question  of  the  cotton  exchanges  was 
the  one  thing  upon  which  the  Union  and  the  spinners  could  not 
agree.  Both  earnestly  expressed  a  desire  to  get  rid  of  the  gambling 
element,  which  is  regarded  as  demri-alizing  and  depressing  upon 
the  actual  market,  but  while  the  former  would  have  wiped  it  out 
at  a  single  blow,  the  spinners  stood  for  conservative  and  gradual 
action,  which,  while  destroying  the  evil,  would  retain  the  ex- 
changes. 

Again,  the  spinners  made  known  to  the  producers  that  they 
would  be  willing  to  dispense  with  the  middleman — the  broker — 
provided  the  producer  would  give  them  a  responsible  person  to 
deal  with  in  his  stead.  It  was  suggested  that  they  first  perfect  a 
warehouse  system,  place  responsible  persons  at  the  head  of  it,  and 
they  would  then  be  in  a  position  to  guarantee  that  the  spinner 
would  get  exactly  what  he  bought.  That  is  the  end  toward  which 
the  Union  is  now  working,  and  its  object  is  to  bring  its  warehouse 
system  to  this  l^asis. 

The  foreign  spinners  gave  the  producers  actual  demonstration 
of  the  torn,  ragged,  and  dirty  condition  in  which  the  American 
cotton  reaches  the  foreign  mills,  and  urged  a  patterning  after  the 
trimmer,  cleaner  Egyptian  bale.  The  Union  is  now  urging  upon 
its  members  the  importance  of  improving  its  methods  of  packing 
and  meeting  this  just  demand  of  the  foreign  spinners. 


OF    TIIK    farmers'    UNION.  257 

Other  subjects  dealt  in  were  such  as  tare,  transportation,  and 
Hke  matters  largely  of  a  technical  nature.  But  the  chief  result,  so 
far  as  the  producer  was  concerned,  was  to  point  out  to  him  what 
he  would  have  to  do  to  brin,2^  about  direct  trade  and  to  set  him 
detcrniinedl}'  to  ^\•ork  in  that  direction. 

The  second  plan  which  works  for  the  ultimate  accomplishment 
of  tlie  I  "nion's  objects  is  diversification  of  crops.  Year  after  year, 
eve!i  da\  after  day,  it  has  sou^^ht  to  impress  the  producer  with  the 
importance  of  g^rowing-  his  supplies  at  home,  of  making  his  own 
corn,  hay  and  meat.  Before  he  raised  only  cotton,  as  a  rule,  spend- 
ing- liis  profits  in  buying  his  supplies  from  other  States,  and  accu- 
mulating nothing.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  the  average  South- 
ern farmer  consumes  his  profits  while  he  is  making  his  crop ;  he 
is  always  a  year  behind.  He  is  obliged  to  purchase  his  supplies 
in  advance  of  the  maturity  of  his  cotton,  and  on  cotton  alone  can 
he  secure  advances.  Hence  he  goes  into  debt  and  is  frequently 
compelled  to  market  his  crop  as  soon  as  it  matures,  to  meet  his 
obligations.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  he  would  plant  a  little  less  cot- 
ton and  make  a  little  more  grain,  hay  and  meat,  he  would  soon 
reach  that  independent  position  wherein  he  need  not  sell  his  cotton 
until  an  advantageous  moment.  The  shortening  of  the  crop  would 
mean  better  prices,  and  the  profit  on  the  staple  would  represent 
accumulations.  The  growth  of  the  tenant  system  in  the  South  and 
the  habit  of  borrowing  on  the  next  season's  crop  has  largely  op- 
erated against  this,  but  gradually  the  producer,  urged  on  by  the 
Union,  is  realizing  the  importance  of  this  step,  and  the  growing  of 
home  supplies  is  on  the  increase. 

LEGISLATION    DEMANDED. 

The  Farmers'  I'nion  is  out  of  politics  only  in  the  partisan  sense. 
Its  membership,  individual!}',  is  alwaxs  allowed  to  support  the 
candidate  who  promises  advocacy  of  the  measures  which  they 
desire  enacted.  There  is  certain  legislation  of  a  national  character 
which  the  organization  is  demanding,  and  for  which  it  is  quietly 
but  determinedly  working.  This  legislation  was  largely  outlined 
in  the  Texarkana  Convention  of  1906,  when  it  recommended  an 
increase  in  industrial  and  agricultural  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  the  institution  of  a  course  of  reading  on  economic  and 
governmental  affairs.  Some  of  the  States  are  already  moving  in 
this  direction.  Georgia's  eleven  congressional  district  agricultural 
schools,  recently  established,  were,  in  part,  modeled  in  accordance 
with  the  expressed  w'ishes  of  the- Farmers'  Union.  Alabama  had 
already  taken  a  like  step,  and  other  States  are  following. 

17 


258  MISSION^    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

In  this  same  convention  the  Union  memoriahzed  Congress  to 
give  to  the  rural  school  districts  of  the  South  the  war  tax  collected 
on  cotton,  which  amounted  to  some  $65,000,000 ;  it  asked  a 
national  appropriaton  for  improving  country  roads ;  it  asked  the 
establishment  of  a  parcels  post  system,  and  demanded  enforcement 
of  the  anti-trust  laws,  even  to  imprisonment.  Later,  at  Little  Rock, 
in  1907,  it  urged  the  enactment  of  more  stringent  and  restrictive 
laws  regarding  foreign  immigration. 

A  committee  on  legislation  was  named  at  the  latter  convention, 
consisting  of  R.  F.  Duckworth,  of  Georgia,  Chairman  ;  Ben  L.  Grif- 
fin, of  Arkansas,  and  Campbell  Russell,  of  Oklahoma.  Part  of  this 
committee  made  several  visits  to  \\"ashington  in  the  spring  of  1908. 

A  special  assessment  of  ten  cents  per  capita  for  organization 
purposes,  levied  by  the  constitution,  produced  considerable  dissen- 
sion in  several  States,  which  in  Texas  promised,  for  a  time,  to  de- 
velop into  actual  revolt,  but  it  was  finally  overcome,  the  assessment 
was  paid,  and  harmony  re-established. 

The  Union  has  not  had  all  smooth  sailing.  Dissensions  have 
frequently  arisen  within  its  ranks.  A\'hen  the  time  had  come  for 
the  Texas  organization  to  turn  over  the  charter  and  direction  of 
afifairs  to  the  National  Organization,  a  faction  in  Texas  opposed 
surrendering  the  charter.  This  brought  about  a  dispute,  which 
finallv  led  to  an  extra  State  meeting  of  the  Texas  State  Union,  but 
by  the  succeediiig  National  Convention,  harmony  upon  this  point 
was  restored. 

In  South  Carolina  friction  arose  in  the  official  family,  resulting 
from  dififerences  among  leaders  of  the  South  Carolina  Union.  The 
charter  was  surrendered.  The  State  was  immediately  reorganized 
with  new  officials,  and  harmony  reigned  again. 

In  Kansas  rival  editors  stirred  up  the  membership  to  a  point 
where  disruption  of  the  State  L"^nion  was  threatened.  The  South 
Carolina  process  was  employed,  reorganization  followed,  and 
the  disturbing  editors  retired. 

In  Alabama  a  State  meeting  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  set- 
tling a  dispute  an]ong  State  officials. 

Notwithstanding,  after  all  of  our  ups  and  downs,  the  Union 
continues  to  grow,  and  it  proposes  a  peaceful  invasion  of  every 
American  State.  It  seeks  to  bring  all  producers  from  the  soil  into 
one  vast,  compact  body,  carrying  business  principles  everywhere 
to  the  farm  and  enabling  the  producer,  through  a  knowledge  of 
these,  to  make  the  most  advantageous  disposition  of  his  crops,  to 
the  end  that  he  may  not  only  live,  but  accumulate  both  knowledge 
and  material  wealth.     These  are  its  ioftv  aims. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  259 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES— ALABAMA,  "ARKANSAS. 

THE  men  and    women  whose  biographies    are.  here  given, 
were   connected  with    different   phases  of  the   Farmers' 
Union.    Whether  humbl}-  or  in  great  capacity,  they  were 
identified  with  the  cause.    A  history  of  this  nature  would  be  incom- 
plete if  it  did  not  relate  their  influence  over  the  upbuilding  of  the 
organization. 

Agricola,  C.  p.,  and  Crouch,  J.  R.,  Eirmingham,  Ala. — These 
two  forceful  men  are  editors  of  The  Farmers'  Union  Guide,  which 
is  rapidly  forging  to  the  front  as  a  bright  and  intelligently  edited 
Union  paper.  The  Guide  is  an  illustration  of  what  sheer  pluck  will 
accomplish.  Messrs.  Agricola  and  Crouch  had  a  hard  struggle 
at  first,  and  there  were  gloomy  days  when  less  purposeful  men 
would  have  given  up.  Not  these  two.  With  bulldog  grit  they 
hung  on,  working  almost  night  and  day  to  make  the  paper  a  suc- 
cess. In  addition  to  fine  ability  as  writers,  both  are  experienced 
printers,  and  presently  The  Guide  began  to  make  its  way.  Its 
ringing  editorial  utterances,  its  intelligently  edited  matter  of  inter- 
est to  the  Union  and  farmers  generally,  combined  with  handsome 
typographical  appearance,  soon  began  to  be  felt.  The  paper  is  a 
success  now,  and  is  winning  its  way  to  the  front  ranks  of  papers 
of  its  class. 

Archer,  W.  P.,  Gadsden,  Ala. — A  very  prominent  man  in  the 
organization  in  Etowah  County,  from  a  warehouse  standpoint.  He 
is  one  of  the  very  best  managers  in  Alabama. 

Brown,  AI.  P.,  Centerville,  Ala. — Is  a  hard  and  enthusiastic 
worker  in  the  Union ;  began  in  its  infancy ;  has  never  held  any 
office,  and  says  he  doesn't  want  any.  One  of  the  old  Alliance 
school. 

Baldwin,  W.  S..  Fairhope.  Ala. — Is  an  enthusiastic  Union  man  ; 
has  done  some  organizing.  Pie  is  at  present  President  of  Baldwin 
County.  For  the  first  two  years  he  was  County  Secretary  of  said 
county.    A  true  and  tried  Union  man. 


260  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Bales,  A.  P.,  Albertville,  Ala. — Has  been  a  leader  in  the  Ware- 
house building  in  his  county ;  was  chairman  of  the  committee  that 
had  in  charge  the  building  of  the  [Marshall  County  Warehouse,  and 
was  for  three  years  manager  of  same. 

BoLAND,  E.  T.,  Brewton,  Ala. — Joined  the  Union  July,  1905. 
President  of  his  local  Union,  and  President  of  Escambia  County 
Union  since  its  organization.  Has  been  a  commissioned  organizer 
and  has  done  some  organizing  work.  Delegate  to  State  Union 
when  organized,  1905,  and  again  at  Birmigham,  1907. 

Barker,  J.  F.,  Beaverton,  Ala. — Chairman  of  the  State  Execu- 
tive Committee.  Has  been  President  of  Lamar  County,  and  Sec- 
retary of  same  county.  Helped  to  organize  Winston  Countv.  Has 
lectured  in  several  counties.  Has  never  missed  a  county  meeting 
or  a  State  meeting  since  he  joined.  Has  served  three  terms  as  State 
Executive  Committeeman.     Barker  is  a  sound  man. 

Cox,  L.  O.,  Boaz,  Ala. — Has  been  President  of  the  Union  Ware- 
house Company  at  Boaz  for  three  years,  and  has  spent  his  time  and 
money  in  making  the  warehouse  a  success ;  has  been  President 
of  his  County  Union  two  years ;  was  a  delegate  to  Ft.  Worth  and 
New  Orleans. 

Cason,  C.  H..  Sulligent,  Ala. — Warehouse  manager,  Sulligent ; 
has  been  an  active  worker  in  the  warehouse  of  Sulligent,  and  was 
one  of  those  who  helped  to  secure  one  of  the  first  Union  ware- 
houses in  the  South.    He  is  manager  of  State  Produce  Company. 

Cather,  a.  PL,  Birmingham.  Ala. — Joined  the  Union  at  Pell 
Citv,  and  in  a  few  months  after  his  connection  with  the  Pinion,  he 
conceived  the  idea  of  publishing  a  weekly  newspaper.  He  formed 
a  partnership  with  Dr.  E.  J.  Cook,  then  Secretary-Treasurer  of 
the  State  Union,  and  established  the  "Farmers'  Union  Guide"  at 
Pell  City.  The  success  of  the  Guide  was  wonderful.  From  a  few 
hundred  subscribers  when  it  started,  the  circulation  had  grown 
to  almost  10,000  by  the  end  of  the  year,  and  is  still  growing.  They 
united  forces  with  the  firm  of  Agricola  &  Crouch,  in  May,  1907, 
and  continued  in  business  under  the  firm  name  of  the  Guide 
Publishing  Company,  until  they  sold  their  interest  out  in  1908. 

Dean,  H.  O.,  Alexander  City,  Ala. — Is  warehouse  manager  in 
his  county ;  is  also  State  Conductor  of  Alabama  State  Union.  His 
wife  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first  delegate  elected  to  attend  a 
State  meeting  in  Alabama,  representing  lur  county  in  State  meet- 
ing.     Dean  is  a  bright,  useful  business  man. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  261 

Duncan,  J.  F.,  McShan,  Ala. — Is  ex-President.  For  ten  months 
he  held  said  office.  Dr.  Duncan  entered  the  organization  in  its 
infancy  in  his  county;  flid  good  and  effective  work  in  organizing 
his  county. 

Evans,  L.  V.,  Hetlin,  Ala. — Has  been  prominentl}  identified 
with  the  warehouse  movement  in  his  county,  and  has  the  honor 
of  l)eing  the  first  President  of  the  Cleburn  Farmers'  Union  Ware- 
house Company,  in  which  capacity  he  has  done  splendid  work. 

Eiland,  W.  ]\r.,  Sprott,  Ala. — Was  elected  President  of  his 
county  in  its  initiation  into  the  Farmers'  Union.  A  very  enthu- 
siastic worker.  A  prominent  and  prosperous  farmer:  has  been  a 
delegate  to  the  National  Convention.    Eiland  is  an  intelligent  man. 

Ford,  Oliver  P.,  McFall,  Ala. — Was  born  Jtdy  22,  1864,  on  a 
farm  where  now  stands  the  city  of  Anniston,  Ala.  His  father  had 
been  a  South  Carolina  farmer  and  moved  to  Alabama.  Young* 
Ford  had  but  few  school  advantages,  as  it  was  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  there  were  few  schools  in  the  country.  The  South  had 
been  devastated  by  the  war,  and  there  were  no  schools  of  any  value 
in  Calhoun  County.  The  great  desire  of  young-  Ford's  life  was 
to  get  an  education  and  to  help  develop  the  waste  farms  of  his 
native  county.  With  this  craving-  uppermost,  he  schooled  himself. 
April,  1905,  he  became  a  charter  member  of  the  first  local  Union 
organization  in  Calhoun  County.  From  this  time  on  he  was  per- 
sistently at  work  for  the  Union,  and  was  elected  State  Lecturer 
at  Andalusia,  1907,  and  re-elected  1908,  at  Birmingham.  He  was 
a  charter  member  of  the  P'armers'  Alliance  of  Calhoun  County, 
and  was  for  three  years  Lecturer  of  that  organization.  He  has 
been  always  on  the  side  of  the  farmers  fighting  for  their  rights, 
as  is  shown  by  his  connection  with  the  Alliance  and  the  Union. 

Fanning,  J.  A.,  Hanceville.  Ala. — Prominent  L'nion  worker; 
organized  his  county ;  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Cullman  for  two 
years ;  delegate  to  the  first  State  meeting,  at  which  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  served  as  secretary 
of  the  board  for  two  years ;  delegate  to  the  National  Convention 
at  Texarkana.  1905,  and  delegate  to  the  Memphis  meeting.  1908; 
has  attended  all  of  the  regular  State  L^nions.  He  has  been  an 
active  member  of  the  Wheel  and  the  Alliance,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Grange  in  South  Carolina ;  is  deeply  interested  in  all  things 
that  pertain  to  the  advancement  of  the  farmer. 

Ford,  Mrs.  O.  P.,  McFall,  Ala. — Delegate  to  the  last  National 
Convention ;  served  on  important  committees  ;  also  attended  the 


262  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Alabama  State  Convention.     She  is  the  wife  of  O.  P.  Ford,  the 
State  Lecturer. 

Gx\.Y,  Charles  L.,  jMontgomery,  Ala. — An  active  member  of 
the  Farmers'  Union  in  Alabama :  President  of  his  Local  and  Vice- 
President  of  his  County  L'nion.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Southern  Cotton  Growers'  Association ;  President  of  his  county 
division,  and  a  member  of  the  National  Executive  Committee  of 
that  Association.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  prominent 
farmers  in  Alabama. 

Hundley,  William  H.,  Greenbrier,  Ala. — Was  born  February 
22,  i860.  His  father,  Col.  Wm.  Hundley,  was  killed  during  the 
war.  The  boyhood  days  of  young  Hundley  were  spent  on  the 
farm,  where  he  received  a  common  school  education,  and  at  the 
Universities  of  Alabama  and  Kentucky.  After  leaving  school,  he 
took  up  farming;  he  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  upon  its  advent 
into  his  State,  and  since  that  time  has  devoted  much  time  and 
attention  to  the  order.  At  the  last  State  Convention  he  was  elected 
a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention. 

Hicks,  J.  C,  Centerville,  Ala. — Was  born  on  a  farm  in  Bibb 
County,  and  secured  his  education  in  the  country  schools  and  at 
Howard  College.  Joined  the  Union  in  1906  and  was  elected  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer of  his  County  Union  when  it  was  organized.  He 
has  assisted  in  organizing  several  counties ;  was  a  delegate  to  State 
meeting  in  1907,  where  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  and  re-elected  at  Birmingham  in  1908,  and  has  devoted 
much  of  his  time  to  the  Union  since  1906. 

HoRTON,  H.  H.,  Russellville. — President  and  Manager  of  the 
Farmers'  L^nion  Warehouse.  Has  been  active  in  making  speeches 
for  the  warehouse ;  has  made  200  or  more  and  traveled  3,500  miles 
in  work  for  the  warehouses ;  served  as  County  President  two  years. 

Hill,  Ben  L.,  Bridgeport,  Ala. — Is  a  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee,  representing  his  part  of  the  State  on  said 
board.  Hill  is  loved  by  his  people,  not  only  in  his  section,  but 
throughout  Alabama. 

Hill,  J.  F.,  Wilsonville,  Ala. — Is  one  of  the  "old  war-horses" 
in  the  Farmers'  Union ;  went  into  the  Farmers'  Union  in  its  in^- 
fancy.  At  the  first  State  Union,  he  was  elected  Sergeant-at-Arms, 
and  served  two  years  in  succession,  and  at  the  fourth  annual  meet- 
ing was  re-elected  to  that  honorable  position.  He  is  an  ideal 
farmer,  a  man  of  wide  influence. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  263 

Hunt,  G.  ]).,  Truett,  Ala. — Is  an  organizer  in  the  State;  an 
enthusiastic  worker,  true  man  of  the  cause ;  was  elected  at  the 
last  State  meeting  as  a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention.  He 
ha^  had  quite  a  wide  experience  in  the  labor  held. 

HuTTO,  G.  N.,  Lincoln,  Ala. — Was  one  of  the  first  men  to  enlist 
in  the  State  in  the  organizing  field.  He  made  a  successful  Organ- 
izer, and  at  the  first  State  meeting  was  elected  Doorkeeper,  which 
position  he  held  for  two  vears. 

Hughs,  Dr.  W.  E.,  Choccolocco,  Ma. — Is  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  erecting  in  Anniston  the  "banner"  warehouse  owned  by 
the  organization  in  the  State.    He  worked  hard  to  secure  same. 

Johnson,  T.  F.,  Birmingham,  Ala. — Was  born  in  Lauderdale 
County,  Alabama,  September  6,  1869;  lived  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  thirteen  years  old ;  moved  to  Florence  County ;  attended  the 
State  Normal  College  until  nineteen  years  old ;  worked  for  the 
Southern  Express  Company  as  messenger  and  local  agent ;  was  in 
the  hardware  business  a  few  years ;  from  there  went  on  the  farm, 
and  remained  ever  since  that  time.  He  joined  the  first  local  Union 
that  was  organized  in  his  neighborhood,  and  has  devoted  a  great 
portion  of  his  time  for  the  last  three  years  to  the  interests  of  the 
Union,  organizing  and  building  Farmers'  LTnion  warehouses.  Was 
elected  State  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Alabama  in  1908,  in  which 
capacity  he  is  serving  satisfactorily.  His  books  and  accounts  are 
kept  with  diligence,  and  as  a  Secretary  he  is  making  a  good  mark. 

Kelsoe,  J.  W.,  Enterprise,  Ala. — Vice  President  Alabama  State 
Union;  was  born  September  8,  i860,  and  is  a  native  of  Alabama. 
Joined  the  Farmers'  Union  as  a  charter  member  of  his  local ;  was 
elected  President  of  the  Cofifee  County  Union  w^hen  it  was  organ- 
ized ;  w^as  a  delegate  to  the  State  meeting  at  Andalusia,  1907,  and 
again  at  Birmingham,  in  1908 ;  w^as  elected  Vice-President  of  Ala- 
bama State  L^nion  at  Birmingham.  He  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  County  Board  of  Education  of  his  county,  where  he  has 
worked  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  rural  schools.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising and  successful  farmer,  and  practices  what  he  preaches. 

LiGON,  P.  H.,  Hunter,  Ala. — Has  served  as  President  of  his 
county  since  its  organization,  three  years  ago  into  a  County  Union. 
Ligon  is  one  of  the  old  Alliance  heroes ;  was  one  of  the  first  men 
in  his  county  to  put  on  foot  the  warehouse  ]")roposition  ;  one  of  the 
best  warehouses  in  Alabama. 

Longshore,  A.  P.,  Columbia.  Ala. — Was  born  on  the  farm  and 
worked  on  it  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  when  he  began 


i^O* 


MISSION.    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


STATK    OFKiriAI.S,    MISSISSIPPI     1>IVIS1(»N. 

1.  O.    U.    IIiGHTOwion,    Stale    I'rcsidciu. 

2.   <!.    W.    IJi'SSELi-,    Stall!    Sr(  Tctary-Treasiirci-. 

3.  J.  M.  liASS,  VIco-Prt'sldcnt.  4.   II.  W.  Ukadsiiaw,  State  Lecturer. 

').   n.  A.  N.  Wii.sc.N-,  State  Chaiilaiii. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  265 

teachinj:^  to  piocnre  money  to  prepare  himself  for  the  law.  Served 
two  terms  in  the  Legislature  from  Slielby  County;  became  a  char- 
ter member  of  the  local  Union.  Has  been  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Union.  Is  now  probate  Judqe  in  Shelby  County,  in  which  place  he 
has  served  ten  years. 

LuNSDEN,  W.  J-1  IHitton,  Ala. — Is  a  true  and  trii-d  Union  man. 
He  was  Serg-eant-at-.\rms  durinq-  tlie  administration  of  Dr.  Dun- 
can. 

J\IcCr.\rv,  C.  R.,  Opclika,  Ala. — Was  first  President  of  his 
County  Union,  in  wliich  capacity  he  served  one  year ;  being  elected 
to  the  Legislature,  he  resigned  as  County  President.  He  has  been 
a  faithful  worker  in  the  Union  cause  since  its  beginning  in  his 
State. 

May,  D.  H.,  Notasulga,  Ala. — Enlisted  in  the  fight  in  its  in- 
fancy, and  has  proven  true  to  the  cause  every  day  of  his  life  since; 
worked  hard  in  securing  a  warehouse  in  his  town. 

Morris,  W.  A.  Sulligent,  Ala. — President  of  the  Alabama  State 
Union,  and  a  leader  of  the  State  from  the  introduction  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  into  it  to  the  present  time ;  was  born  in  Talladega 
County,  Alabama,  1868.  His  life  has  been  spent  upon  a  farm  with 
the  exception  of  his  school  days.  He  w^as  educated  in  Ringgold, 
Ga.,  and  in  Oxford  College,  Alabama.  He  has  devoted  his  time 
and  energy  to  the  demands  of  Unionism  among  the  farmers  of  his 
State,  At  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  was  initiated  into  the  Alliance 
by  the  side  of  his  father,  and  remained  a  member  until  the  Alliance 
ceased  to  exist.  Morris  joined  the  I'nion  as  soon  as  the  work  be- 
gan in  Alabama,  and  has  been  prominently  identified  with  it 
ever  since ;  has  been  a  delegate  to  all  the  State  and  National  meet- 
ings ;  Vice-President  of  the  National  L^nion ;  member  of  the 
National  Board  of  Directors  since  1906;  State  Organizer  of  Ala- 
bama three  terms,  and  State  President  since  1908.  He  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Topeka  lUisiness  Congress,  the  conference  of  spinners 
and  growers  in  Atlanta,  and  an  attendant  at  every  National  rally 
and  conference.  He  is  a  good  speaker  and  a  fine  mixer,  and  has 
the  Union  interest  at  heart.  He  has  been  one  of  the  strong  sup- 
porters of  the  warehouse  system  in  his  State,  and  did  a  great  deal 
to  help  organize  tiie  warehouse  at  Sulligent  before  the  warehouse 
idea  was  as  prominent  as  it  is  now.  This  warehouse  has  been  a 
success,  and  an  incentive  to  other  communities  to  build  warehouses 
for  the  storage  of  cotton.  He  has  traveled  in  every  section  of  his 
.State  and  visited  many  other  States,  where  he  has  made  strong 


266  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

and  convincing  speeches  in  the  interest  of  the  Union.  His  work 
has  been  very  successful,  and  Alabama  under  his  administration  is 
doing  splendidly. 

McElderrv,  G.  T.,  Talladega,  Ala. — Delegate  to  the  Inter- 
national Cotton  Congress  held  in  Vienna,  Austria,  in  1907 ;  delegate 
to  the  first  National  meeting  held  at  Texarkana,  Texas ;  has  at- 
tended several  National  meetings  since.  A  prosperous  farmer ;  in 
October,  1905,  he  furnished  the  State  Union  plans  by  which  the 
Union  could  buy  fertilizer  in  carload  lots.  In  1906,  he  traveled 
thousands  of  miles,  making  speeches  in  the  interest  of  the  Cotton 
Union.  He  was  a  promoter  of  cotton  schools,  and  standard  classi- 
fication of  cotton  grades ;  has  never  held  any  official  position  in  the 
Farmers'  Union  except  legislative  committeeman  for  the  State  of 
Alabama,  and  was  successful  in  securing  the  enactment  into  law 
the  recommendations  made  by  the  Alabama  Division  held  in  Bes- 
semer in  August,  1906.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church. 

Orr,  Robert  F.,  Hartsell,  Ala. — A  member  of  the  State  Execu- 
tive Committee;  joined  the  Union  September,  1906;  has  served  as 
President  of  his  Local  and  County  Union  since  1906 ;  delegate  to 
State  Union,  1907;  elected  member  of  the  Executive  Committee 
1907,  and  re-elected  1908;  has  assisted  in  building  a  warehouse  in 
his  town,  and  is  a  good  and  faithful  worker. 

Powell,  John  W.,  Jasper,  Ala. — Has  organized  more  than 
twenty  locals,  made  about  200  speeches ;  has  served  as  County 
President  of  Vv^alk'er  County  for  two  years. 

Parker,  P.  F.,  Arab,  Ala. — Was  born  on  a  farm  in  East  Ten- 
nessee, November,  26,  1864.  At  two  years  of  age  his  parents 
moved  to  Kentucky,  and  four  years  later  to  Sharp  County,  Arkan- 
sas. At  eight  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Limestone  County,  Ala- 
bama, his  father  having  died  two  years  before  in  Arkansas.  He 
learned  to  read  over  a  pine  knot  fire,  and  while  doing  so,  received 
twenty  cents  per  day  as  a  farm  laborer.  He  joined  the  Farmers' 
Union  in  Marshall  County,  and  was  chosen  President  when  the 
County  Union  was  organized,  and  at  the  second  meeting  made  a 
speech,  advising  each  County  Union  to  own  and  operate  a  ware- 
house ;  was  elected  State  Business  Agent  for  Alabama  when  the 
State  ynion  was  organized,  and  served  in  that  capacity  till  1908. 
Parker  has  been  nn  attendant  at  all  the  State  meetings  in  his  State, 
nearly  all  the  National  meetings  held  since  the  organization  of  the 
National  Union.    March  5,  1907,  he  was  made  National  Business 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  267 

Agent  of  the  F.  E.  and  C.  U.  of  A.     As  a  member  of  the  Union  and 
as  Business  Agent  of  Alabama,  he  did  some  splendid  work. 

PiNEGAR,  T.  E.,  Chavies,  Ala. — Principal  Chavies  Training 
School  and  ex-Statc  Lecturer  of  the  Farmers'  Union  of  Alabama ; 
was  born  in  Illinois  January  29,  1872;  moved  to  Tennessee  with 
his  father  in  1882  ;  married  Miss  Sarah  Hutchens,  1889.  By  her  he 
was  taught  to  read  and  write  in  the  winter  of  1889-90;  afterwards 
went  to  school  and  taught  with  success.  Went  to  Alabama  in  1.901 ; 
joined  the  Farmers'  Union  at  the  first  opportunity  and  became  an 
Organizer ;  was  elected  State  Organizer  at  the  organization  of  the 
Alabama  State  Union,  and  at  the  next  annual  convention  was  re- 
elected. Fie  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  national  meeting,  also  to  the 
national  meeting  held  in  Atlanta.  Pinegar  is  an  eloquent  speaker ; 
has  spoken  to  many  very  large  crowds.  He  conducted  an  educa- 
tional campaign  one  summer  in  Georgia.  He  is  a  fine  debater.  He 
resigned  as  State  Lecturer  and  accepted  the  principalship  of  Sand 
Mountain  Institute ;  served  one  year  and  resigned  and  accepted 
principalship  of  the  Chavies  Training  School.  He  still  lectures 
some  for  the  Farmers'  LTnion. 

Pearson.  J.  M.,  Florence,  Ala. — Ex-Vice-President  of  Alabama; 
was  born  September  8,  1863,  on  a  farm  near  Florence.  He  is 
familiar  with  all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  country  life.  To- 
day he  is  a  very  enthusiastic  advocate  of  better  roads,  schools,  and 
everything  that  tend  to  the  social  and  economic  welfare  of  our 
agricultural  population.  He  was  a  member  of  the  National  Cot- 
ton Committee  and  was  placed  at  Memphis,  where  he  remained 
for  some  time,  looking  after  the  interests  of  the  company.  He  is 
a  prosperous  farmer  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Robinson,  J.  J.,  Jr.,  Lafayette,  Ala. — A  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee ;  has  been  for  some  time  in  this  position ;  has 
been  delegate  to  national  meetings. 

SoRRELL,  J.  W.,  Jemison,  Ala. — Is  one  of  the  first  men  to  enlist 
in  his  county,  being  sent  to  the  first  State  meeting  of  Alabama  as 
a  delegate  from  said  county.  He  was  there  elected  on  the  Board 
of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  and  served  in  that  position  for 
two  years.  In  his  county  he  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  most 
ideal  farmers  in  the  country ;  a  man  who  has  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  entire  county.  Last  year  he  was  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  inaugurating  a  county  fair  at  Chilton,  his  county  seat, 
which  proved  more  than  a  success;  served  three  years  as  County 
Business  Agent ;  is  chairman  of  Board  of  Directors  of  two  ware- 
houses in  his  countv.  and  director  in  a  fertilizer  factory. 


268  MISSION.    HISTORY  AXD  TIMES 

Snow,  John,  Oxford,  Ala. — Served  his  county  for  the  first  two 
years  as  President  of  said  county :  one  of  the  prime  movers  in 
helping'  to  secure  a  Union  warehouse  in  Anniston ;  was  honored  by 
his  county  as  a  delegate  to  the  past  two  State  meetings.  Also  went 
as  a  delegate  to  the  International  Spinners'  Convention  from  his 
county,  held  in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  in  1907. 

Stevenson,  Captain,  Xotasulga,  Ala. — Has  the  honor  of  serv- 
ing his  county  for  the  past  twelve  years  as  Superintnedent  of  Edu- 
cation. One  of  the  bright  and  brainy  men  of  the  State ;  a  true 
Union  man.  Up  in  years ;  also  up  on  the  agricultural  interests  of 
our  country.  Xo  man  in  his  section  of  the  State  can  be  spoken 
more  highly  of  than  he. 

S:mith.  J.  G.,  Alpine,  Ala. — Is  one  of  the  first  men  to  enlist  in 
the  organization,  serving  his  county  for  two  years  in  succession  as 
County  President.  He  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  State  meeting 
in  Andalusia,  1907. 

Spradlev,  X.  B..  Cropwell. — ^Joined  the  Union  1905 :  was 
elected  President  of  St.  Clair  County  1905,  and  has  been  re-elected 
at  ever^•  meeting  since ;  has  been  a  member  of  the  Grange  and  the 
Alliance,  and  is  a  hard  worker  for  the  Union. 

Sanderson,  \\'illia:^i  M.,  A'ina. — President  Alarion  County 
for  two  terms ;  has  worked  for  the  success  of  the  Produce  Com- 
pany at  Birmingham ;  his  work  has  been  well  done. 

Stapp,  J.  L.,  Furnbank,  Ala. — Organizer;  has  traveled  2,130 
miles  by  rail,  and  1,760  miles  by  private  conveyance ;  has  organized 
57  locals  and  made  115  speeches. 

Thornton,  J.  A.,  Talladega,  Ala. — He  was  placed  at  the  head 
of  the  cotton  selling  department  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1907. 
One  of  the  old  landmarks  of  his  county ;  a  man  who  has  the  entire 
confidence  of  his  people. 

\^'0RLEV,  I.  A.,  Cordova,  Ala. — Ex-President  of  the  Alabama 
State  Union ;  was  born  in  Virginia  61  years  ago.  He  removed 
from  the  State  of  his  nativity  to  Alabama  in  1883,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  fruit  growing  and  farming.  He  joined  the  Farmers' 
Union  soon  after  it  entered  Alabama,  and  was  the  first  organizer 
to  be  commissioned  by  E.  J.  Cook,  then  in  cliargc  of  the  work. 
This  was  in  October,  1904.  In  March,  1905,  he,  witli  E.  J.  Cook, 
began  the  publication  of  The  Union  Educator.  In  August,  1905, 
when  the  State  Union  was  organized,  he  was  elected  its  first  Presi- 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  269 

dent,  and  was  again  elected  in   1906.      He  refused  to  allow  his 
name  to  l)e  used  for  re-election  at  tlie  third  convention. 

Wilson,  John  H.,  Oxford. — Has  been  an  active  member  and 
always  ready  to  work ;  was  prominent  in  the  days  of  the  Alliance 
as  a  worker  in  that  order;  was  a  delegate  to  Little  Rock,  Memphis, 
and  Ft.  Worth  meetings ;  is  a  director  of  the  Union  warehouse  of 
his  county  ;  is  an  ex-State  Executive  Committeeman. 

Wallace,  J.  C,  Athens,  Ala. — Is  an  enthusiastic  member  of 
the  Farmers'  Union  ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  last  State  meeting.  He 
was  elected  Chaplain  of  the  organization  at  that  meeting. 

Wyatt,  J.  N.,  Siluria,  Ala. — Joined  the  Farmers'  Union  Octo- 
ber, 1905;  delegate  to  State  meeting  at  Andalusia;  delegate-at- 
large  to  International  Spinners'  Conference,  1907 ;  delegate  to 
State  meeting  at  Birmingham ;  delegate  to  New  Orleans,  Novem- 
ber 19,  1908. 

Williams.  W.  H.,  Grove  Hill,  Ala. — Has  organized  fourteen 
local  Unions  ;  has  traveled  1.500  miles,  and  made  fifty  speeches  and 
is  still  pushing  the  work. 

ZoRN,  George  V\'.,  Baker  Flill,  Ala. — Organized  Barbour 
County ;  assisted  in  organizing  and  building  the  Clayton  County 
warehouse ;  was  President  of  the  Barbour  County  Union  for  two 
years,  and  President  of  the  Union  Warehouse  Company  one  term^. 

ARKANSAS. 

Austin,  A.  R..  Gilkey.  Ark. — \\'as  a  charter  member  of  the  first 
local  organized  in  Yell  County ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  County 
Union  when  same  was  organized,  and  was  elected  its  Secretary- 
Treasurer,  which  position  he  held  for  four  years ;  was  a  delegate 
to  his  County  Union  and  to  the  organization  of  the  State  Union  at 
Hot  Springs.  When  the  State  I'nion  met  in  Little  Rock  the  fol- 
lowing August,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive 
Committee,  and  held  that  position  for  three  years.  He  has  been  a 
worker. 

Armstrong.  Rev.  J.  G.,  Brundidge,  Ark. — Ex-Chaplain  of  the 
State  Union ;  did  organizing  in  Arkansas.  Mississippi,  and  North 
Carolina. 

Batton,  J.  T..  Ex-President  of  Arkansas  State  L^nion,  Tucker- 
man. — Was  born  in  Carroll  County.  Tennessee,  May  10,  1846. 
He  grew  up  during  the  war.  and  hence  his  educational  advantages 


270  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

were  limited,  but  he  studied  at  night  and  fitted  himself  to  teach. 
He  has  been  a  lifelong  farmer,  helping  to  make  fifty-three  crops, 
and  is  still  able  to  work  in  the  field.  He  joined  the  Farmers' 
Union  when  it  first  came  in  his  county,  and  was  elected  President 
of  his  local,  and  when  the  County  Union  was  organized,  was 
elected  President  of  that;  shortly  afterward  being  elected  State 
President.  He  served  in  this  capacity  for  practically  two  terms, 
having  been  elected  at  Hot  Springs,  April,  1905.  when  the  Union 
was  organized,  and  again  at  Little  Rock,  August,  1905. 

Brodnax,  F.  W.,  Vanduzer,  Ark. — Was  born  in  Alabama  in 
1848.  His  father  moved  to  Arkansas  in  1851,  and  settled  in 
Ouachita  County,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  up  and  has 
resided  since.  Taught  school  for  several  years,  and  filled  the 
place  of  County  Surveyor.  Served  in  the  Arkansas  Legislature 
in  1893-95.  Was  a  member  of  the  Grange  as  long  as  it  existed, 
and  became  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  LTnion  shortly  after  it  was 
organized,  and  has  been  President  of  his  local  since  it  was  formed. 
At  the  State  Convention  of  1908  was  made  a  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee.  In  that  office  is  doing  all  he  can  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  work. 

Bulgier,  Henry  N.,  Hope,  Ark. — Came  from  Texas,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  organizers  appointed  by  Turner.  He  was  an 
active  worker  from  the  start,  and  organized  the  second  local  in  the 
State,  in  Hempstead  County.  He  was  later  made  Chairman  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  and  was  employed  by  Ben  L.  Grififin  as 
first  assistant  book-keeper  in  the  State  office,  where  his  counsel 
aided  in  shaping  the  first  organization  work  of  the  State  Union. 

Blaylock,  S.  M.,  Colt,  Ark. — Ex-President  of  the  County 
Union  of  his  county;  has  been  an  active  and  influential  worker 
from  the  start ;  has  represented  his  county  in  the  State  meetings ; 
has  been  a  delegate  to  the  National  Union. 

Burge,  L.  M.,  Springdale,  Ark. — Member  of  the  State  Execu- 
tive Committee,  and  President  and  General  Manager  of  the  Arkan- 
sas Fruit  Bureau  of  the  F.  E.  &  C.  U.  of  A. ;  an  intelligent  man, 
and  a  business  man. 

Bowers,  John,  Sr.,  Jacksonville,  Ark. — President  of  the  Arkan- 
sas Division  of  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union 
of  America;  elected  at  the  last  State  meeting  of  the  Arkansas 
Division ;  a  prominent  farmer  and  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles 
of  the  Farmers'  LTnion ;  has  attended  as  a  delegate  a  number  of 
conventions.     He  was  born  July  24.  1825.     He  attended  the  com- 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  271 

mon  schools  about  ten  months  ;  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church ; 
was  a  member  of  the  Grange  and  AlHance ;  was  President  of  the 
Lonoke  Warehouse  Association. 

Biggs,  Rev.  Wm.  Eli,M.D..  Amity,  Ark. — Formerly  of  Pike  City, 
Arkansas;  was  born  in  Amity,  Arkansas,  January,  1862;  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  country;  graduated  from 
the  American  Afcdical  College  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  March  3, 
1885.  The  doctor  is  a  writer  of  reputation  on  theological  ques- 
tions and  political  economy ;  was  a  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Alliance  and  held  several  offices  in  that  organization ;  joined  the 
Union  at  the  first  opportunity ;  has  held  office  of  President,  Lec- 
turer, and  Chaplain  in  his  local,  and  Lecturer  and  Chaplain  of  his 
County  L^nion,  and  Business  Agent  of  District  Union  ;  represented 
Pike  County  in  the  organization  of  the  Arkansas  State  Union  at 
Hot  Springs ;  was  Lecturer  for  all  of  Arkansas  south  of  the 
Arkansas  River  for  one  year ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  National 
Convention  at  Texarkana,  and  was  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Committee ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  Memphis  Convention,  and  was 
Chairman  of  the  Co-operative  Cotton  Mill  Committee.  He  has 
been  an  enthusiastic  worker  in  the  Union. 

Blacicford.  John  A..  Jonesboro,  Ark. — Was  a  charter  member 
of  the  first  local  organized  in  Craighead  County,  in  February, 
1903.  In  April  of  the  same  year,  the  Craighead  County  Union 
was  formed,  and  he  was  elected  Conductor,  serving  one  year,  when 
he  was  elected  Vice-President,  and  a  year  later  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  County  Executive  Committee,  and  is  still  a  member.  In 
April,  1904,  the  Arkansas  State  I'nion  was  organized,  and  he  was 
elected  Conductor  of  the  State  organization.  He  is  a  strong  and 
tireless  worker  for  the  Union,  and  is  always  ready  to  serve  it  at 
any  time.     Has  been  Conductor  of  National  L^nion. 

Bradford,  IL,  Nashville,  Ark. — Who  has  ever  been  active  from 
the  start  and  whose  work  has  been  done  without  the  expectation 
of  position  or  favors. 

Billingsly,  G.  a.,  Arkansas. — Delegate  to  the  National  Con- 
vention ;   has  been  County  Lecturer  and  Organizer. 

Cole,  W.  A.,  Little  Rock,  Ark. — Joined  the  organization  in  the 
spring-  of  1906,  and  immediately  assumed  a  prominent  place  in  an 
effort  to  educate  and  build  up  the  interest  of  its  members;  was 
elected  as  Secretary  to  the  Farmer's  Union  Fruit  Growers'  Asso- 
ciation, which  by  hard  work  and  co-operation  was  a  success.  It  is 
said  that  this  organization  obtained  through  co-operation  75  per 


9  7-> 


:mission,  history  axd  times 


STAIi:   ()I1-|CI.\I,S   A.\I>   i:X-STATK   OFFICIALS.   M  ISSI  SSI  I'I'I    AND 
I'LOiUDA     DIVISIONS. 

1.  W.    II.    Kni.i;.   .Mis.sissippi.   ClKiirinnn    Stato  Kxcciitivc   ( 'Diiiiiiil  tec. 

2.  J.   M.    II.VKVMV,   .Mis.sissippi,    MimhImt   StMlc   Fxecutivc   ("ommittee. 

3.  Okangk  IlKKitiNfiTON.  Mississippi,  Mpnibcr  State  E.xccutive  Committee. 

4.  <;.   N.  'I'u.wvicK.  Fidi-ida,  Kx-Stato  I'resldonl . 

5.  .(.  I..  Coi.i.iNs,  Mississippi,  State  Business  Aki'iiI. 


OF  THE    farmers'    UNION.  273 

cent  more  for  fruit  than  had  ever  been  received  by  the  growers. 
He  was  then  elected  as  Cotton  Agent  for  the  State  of  Arkansas, 
and  is  now  serving  as  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Conmiittee  of 
the  Farmers'  I'nion  L^ruit  Bureau  for  the  State. 

Craig,  A.  T..  Jamestown,  Ark. — Ex-member  of  the  State  Exec- 
utive Committee  and  President  of  the  Independence  County  Union. 
A  successful  farmer,  and  has  done  much  work  in  building  the 
Union  in  his  county. 

CopEi.AND,  B.  M.,  Unity,  Ark. — Has  been  a  worker  as  President 
of  Howard  County  Union.     His  work  has  been  of  great  value. 

Corbett,  M,  a.,  Jacksonville,  Ark. — Lecturer  for  Lonoke 
County  two  years ;  very  successful  worker,  and  did  State  lecturing 
work  successfully. 

CoMPTON,  W.  L.,  Compton,  Ark. — President  of  the  Hempstead 
County  Union ;  has  done  much  good  for  tlie  organization. 

Doyle,  J.  D.,  Portia,  Ark. — Was  born  and  raised  in  Lawrence 
County,  Arkansas  ;  obtained  a  common  school  education ;  entered 
the  profession  of  teaching;  was  an  active  member  of  the  Agri- 
cultural Wheel  in  its  day.  Also  joined  the  Union  in  June,  1905 ; 
was  elected  local  Lecturer,  In  1905  was  elected  County  Lecturer 
of  Lawrence  County.  At  the  State  Union,  in  1906,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Committee.  In  August,  1907, 
was  elected  by  the  State  Union  as  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee :  attended  all  the  State  LTnions  and  many  important 
meetings,  also  the  National  Conference  at  Atlanta,  Georgia ;  made 
a  strong  fight  before  the  Legislature  for  the  four  agricultural 
schools ;  is  now  a  member  of  the  Executive  Board  of  his  county, 
also  Lecturer  of  his  county  and  a  member  of  the  Commercial  Com- 
mittee of  the  Union. 

Dickinson,  M.  S.,  Conway,  State  Secretary-Treasurer  of 
Arkansas. — Born  on  a  farm  in  Greene  County,  Arkansas,  May  11, 
1879;  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  county  until  fourteen 
years  of  age,  then  attended  the  Thompson  Classical  Institute  at 
Paragould ;  later  took  a  course  in  the  LTniversity  of  the  South  at 
Sewanee,  Tennessee,  and  the  Hospital  Medical  College  at  ]\Iem- 
phis.  Since  reaching  maturity,  has  been  engaged  in  various  occu- 
pations— as  farming,  teaching  in  rural,  city  and  private  schools, 
salesman,  politics  (Democrat),  having  served  as  County  Examiner 
of  Schools  in  Greene  County  four  years ;  President  of  the  North- 
east Teachers'  Association,  also  President  of  County  Teachers' 
18 


274  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Association  ;  joined  the  Union  during  the  summer  of  1905,  at 
Lorado,  Greene  County ;  served  as  President  of  Marmaduke  Local 
Union,  iNlarmaduke  District  Union,  and  the  Greene  County  Union ; 
elected  Secretary  of  the  Arkansas  State  Union  to  succeed  Ben  L. 
Griffin,  August  5,  1908.  He  is  a  good  speaker  and  a  splendid 
writer,  and  his  varied  experience  makes  him  ready  at  all  times  to 
defend  the  Union  cause.  '  He  belongs  to  a  number  of  secret  orders, 
in  which  he  takes  an  active  interest.  He  is,  at  the  present  time, 
ably  editing  the  Arkansas  Union  Tribune. 

Davis,  Alex.,  Beebe,  Ark. — Has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the 
first  persons  in  White  County  to  advocate  unionism.  In  the  early 
history  of  the  order,  he  served  as  County  Lecturer,  devoting  as 
much  time  as  possible  to  the  work  ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  State 
Convention,  and  assisted  in  organizing  the  State  Union  in  Arkan- 
sas ;  was  called  to  assist  the  National  Secretary.  R.  H.  McCulloch, 
two  years  ago,  and  is  now  occupying  that  position,  having  the 
distinction  of  being  the  first  assistant  to  that  important  office,  and 
is  serving  his  second  term  as  President  of  the  White  County 
L'nion.     Davis  makes  a  fine  Assistant  Secretary. 

Dempsey,  L  K.,  Magazine,  Ark. — County  President  of  Logan 
County  for  two  years,  and  a  very  influential  worker  for  the  cause ; 
has  done  as  much  for  Logan  County  LTnion  as  any  man  in  it. 

Ellis,  J.  L,  Morristown,  Ark. — Ex-State  Business  Agent,  and 
said  to  be  a  successful  farmer. 

Griffin,  Ben  L.,  Conway,  Ark. — The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Perry  County,  Alabama,  May  22,  1863;  moved 
with  the  family  from  Alabama  to  Lee  County,  Mississippi,  1869; 
removed  to  Alabama,  1870,  where  he  lived  until  sixteen  years  of 
age.  At  this  time  he  was  unable  to  read  or  write.  At  sixteen,  he 
returned  to  Mississippi,  and  worked  as  a  farm  hand.  In  1887,  by 
the  assistance  of  friends,  he  entered  Banner  College,  where  he 
remained  for  some  time.  After  leaving  school,  he  taught  for  some 
years.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  Alliance  during  its  existence, 
and  wlicn  the  Union  was  organized  in  the  State  of  Arkansas, 
where  he  had  moved  from  Mississippi,  he  joined  and  took  an  active 
part  from  the  beginning.  When  the  State  L'^^nion  Avas  organized 
in  1905,  he  was  elected  State  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  Re-elected 
1906,  and  again  1907 ;  declined  to  allow  his  name  to  be  used  for  re- 
election in  1908 ;  has  attended  all  the  State  meetings,  where  he  took 
a  leading  part,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  many  of  the  National 
Conventions,  where  he  served  on   many   important  committees. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  275 

While  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  Arkansas  he  owned  and  edited 
the  Arkansas  Union  Tribune;  has  visited  many  State  meetings  in 
other  States,  where  he  was  invited  to  make  addresses.  Elected 
member  of  National  Legislative  Committee,  1907.  He  is  now  pre- 
paring a  history  of  the  LTnion  in  Arkansas. 

Glass,  J.  M.,  Swifton,  Ark. — Was  a  member  of  first  Executive 
Committee  and  an  active  worker. 

Holt,  J.  T.  M.,  Bingen,  Ark. — Ex-Secretary  of  the  Hempstead 
County  Union,  and  has  been  an  active  worker  as  Organizer  and 
Lecturer  in  his  county;  is  very  highly  esteemed  by  his  people; 
has  also  been  Vice-President  of  the  State  L%ion ;  is  now  member 
of  the  Arkansas  Legislature. 

Ham,  W.  T.,  Van  Buren,  Ark. — Ex-Vice-President  of  the 
Arkansas  State  I'nion.  For  three  terms  President  of  his  County 
Union.  Twice  County  Lecturer;  has  attended  four  National 
Conventions,  four  State  Conventions.  Has  done  quite  a  lot  of 
organizing.     A  good  worker. 

Jones.  J.  N,,  Vice-President,  Brockett,  Ark. — Was  born  at 
Patton,  Missouri,  July  11,  1853.  He  is  descended  from  Virginia 
and  Kentucky  pioneers.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and 
at  Cape  Girardeau,  where  he  went  to  school ;  and  as  a  young  man, 
he  was  engaged  in  railroading  and  herding  stock  in  Texas.  In 
1874,  he  engaged  in  lumber  business  in  Arkansas,  with  farming 
as  a  side  line.  In  1882  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1885.  He  practiced  law  for  a  few  years,  but 
the  call  of  the  woods  and  the  farm  appealed  too  strongly,  and  he 
relinquished  his  practice  and  entered  exclusively  into  farming  in 
1895.  Lie  became  identified  with  the  Farmers'  Union  in  1906, 
and  has  devoted  no  small  part  of  his  time  and  energy  to  its  cause. 

Kemp,  Miss  Bessie,  \\^ilmar,  Ark. — Was  employed  by  J.  S. 
Turner  as  stenographer  up  to  the  date  of  the  State  L^nion,  and  was 
then  appointed  as  Assistant  Secretary  by  Ben  L.  Griffin,  which 
place  she  held  with  credit  to  herself  and  satisfaction  to  the  order 
foi"  trvo  years.     She  was  untiring  in  her  zeal  for  the  cause. 

Lewis,  J.  B.,  Jonesboro,  Ark. — Ex-State  President  and  member 
of  many  fraternal  organizations ;  a  strong  and  earnest  advocate 
of  labor  unions  ;  \\  as  for  a  long  time  a  locomotive  engineer,  but  is 
at  the  present  time  residing  on  his  farm  near  Jonesboro,  Arkansas. 

Lybrand,  J.  W.,  Sheridan,  Ark. — Was  a  member  of  the  first 
Legislative  Committee  in  1907;    has  been  a  hard  worker;    was 


276  MISSION^    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

County  President  of  Grant  County  one  year ;  has  served  his  people 
as  County  Judge. 

Lewis,  H.  Beecher,  Brinkley,  Ark. — Was  first  organizer  for 
the  Farmers'  Union  east  of  the  White  River ;  organized  the  first 
local  in  that  part  of  the  State  at  Shiloh  on  the  17th  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1904,  and  since  that  time  has  been  constantly  at  work  for  the 
Union;  was  District  Lecturer,  third  district,  1905;  appointed  one 
of  the  State  Lecturers,  1905 ;  elected  State  Lecturer,  1906,  and 
served  till  1907;  has  organized  172  local  Unions,  and  17  County 
Unions ;  has  visited  every  one  of  the  75  counties  in  the  State ;  has 
spoken  in  Tennessee,  Texas,  and  Missouri ;  has  made  more  than 
one  thousand  speeches ;  has  traveled  many  thousand  miles ;  has 
attended  all  the  State  Conventions  and  the  National  Convention, 
and  is  till  actively  at  work. 

McCuLLOCH,  R.  H.,  Beebe,  Ark. — National  Secretary-Treas- 
urer of  the  Farmers'  Union.  Was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  moved 
to  Arkansas  before  the  war.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
other  pursuits.  He  is  a  fine  farmer,  and  takes  an  especial  pride  in 
his  farm.  He  is  a  prominent  Mason,  and  was  formerly  Grand 
Secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Arkansas.  He  has  been  Clerk 
of  the  Court  for  his  county.  His  family  have  long  been  prom- 
inent in  State  afl:airs.  .  His  brother  is  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Arkansas,  and  another  member  of  his  family  was  the 
celebrated  Confederate  General  McCulloch.  He  was  elected 
National  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  first  Texarkana  meeting,  in 
1905 ;  re-elected  in  1906,  1907,  and  1908,  having  held  the  office 
continuously  since  the  organization  of  the  National  Union.  He  is 
one  of  the  finest  bookkeepers  in  the  country,  and  his  books  and  the 
records  in  his  oftice  are  models  of  neatness  and  correctness.  All 
are  exceptionally  fin-e  and  perfectly  kept.  McCulloch  is  quiet  and 
retiring,  and  his  work  is  perfectly  satisfactory  in  every  particular. 
He  lives  on  his  farm  at  Beebe,  Arkansas.  He  has  for  his  assistant, 
Alex.  Davis,  who  is  a  model  in  his  line  of  work,  and  the  two  to- 
gether run  an  office  that  is  unexcelled  for  business  methods. 

MoDLEY,  FT.  S.,  Prairie  Grove,  Ark. — Born  in  Tampa,  Fla.,  July, 
1869 ;  lived  there  till  1879 ;  moved  with  his  mother  to  Sharp 
County,  Arkansas ;  lived  there  and  in  Texas  County,  Missouri, 
until  1889;  was  educated  at  Irving  Slade,  Arkansas,  and  Morris- 
ville,  Missouri.  He  has  been  connected  with  the  farm  every  year 
of  his  life  but  four;  lived  at  Coraig,  Clay  County,  Arkansas,  until 
September,  1904;  served  at  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas.  He  is 
always  interested  in  educational  and  moral  questions;   is  known  by 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  277 

friends  as  having  convictions,  and  stands  for  them;  joined  the 
Union  in  1906;  took  part  in  organizing-  First  Growers  of  North- 
west Arkansas  District  organization  ;  organized  continuously  since 
then  at  his  own  expense,  and  practically  without  salary.  .  When 
Northwest  District  was  merged  into  the  State  Bureau,  he  was 
chosen  Secretary-Treasurer ;  has  perfected  and  put  into  operation 
several  useful  plans  for  the  local's  benefit ;  organized  the  produce 
business  of  his  district,  which  is  now  in  operation  in  the  State. 
He  is  now  serving  on  the  Legislative  Committee  of  the  State  for 
the  passage  of  the  agricultural  school  bill  and  other  measures  of 
interest  to  the  Union. 

Merritt,  Miss  Meah  M.,  Fayetteville,  Ark. — The  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  the  versatile  editor  of  the  Arkansas  Sentinel,  which 
was  two  years  ago  adopted  as  the  medium  of  the  Farmers'  Union 
of  Washington  County,  and  last  year  the  Northern  District  Com- 
mittee, composed  of  eight  counties,  followed  the  example  of  the 
Washington  County  Union,  also  adopted  the  Sentinel  as  their 
organ.  Miss  Merritt  is  making  a  mark  as  a  writer  and  as  a  cham- 
pion of  better  educational  advantages  for  the  country  boys  and 
girls.  She  was  the  only  woman  delegate  to  the  Arkansas  State 
Convention  in  1908,  and  was  elected  delegate  to  the  National  Con- 
vention at  Fort  Worth.  Here  she  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
National  Committee  on  Education.  The  report  read  by  Miss 
Merritt  recommended  that  there  be  less  book  teaching  and  more 
training  of  the  eye  and  hand  in  our  schools.  She  is  now  a  member 
of  the  County  Educational  Board.  The  work  that  she  has  done, 
and  is  still  doing,  is  of  immense  advantage  to  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion in  her  State,  and  in  the  future  will  tell  for  good.  She  is 
devoting  her  energies  and  her  talents  to  those  who  need  help. 

McCuiSTiN,  J.  F.,  State  Doorkeeper. — Is  a  native  of  Izard 
County,  Arkansas,  and  together  with  nine  others,  joined  the  first 
local  Union  that  he  had  an  opportunity  to ;  was  elected  Secretary 
of  the  Union,  and  shortly  afterward  Lecturer  of  Independence 
County ;  moved  to  Jackson  County  and  was  elected  County  Secre- 
tary ;  served  two  years  and  was  elected  County  President,  which 
position  he  now  holds  ;  was  manager  of  the  Farmers'  Union  Ware- 
house at  Newport,  and  handled  more  than  $100,000  worth  of 
cotton  the  first  season  ;  was  elected  Doorkeeper  of  the  State  Union. 
1907,  and  re-elected,  1908.  July,  1908,  was  placed  in  charge  of 
division  of  the  State  educational  campaign. 

Milner.  Dr.  N.  C,  McNeil,  Ark. — Was  one  of  the  first  Execu- 
tive Committee,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  work ;  was  one  of 
the  first  delegates  to  the  National  Union,  December,  1905. 


278  MISSION^   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Martin,  L,  F.,  Des  Arc,  Ark. — At  one  time  District  Lecturer. 

Mason,  Rev.  W.  B.,  Guy,  Ark. — Chaplain  of  the  first  State 
Union. 

Nixon,  O.  P.,  Clinton,  Ark. — Ex-Member  of  the  State  Exec- 
utive Committee. 

Oliphant,  J.  D.,  Agnes,  Ark. — Elected  Secretary  first  Execu- 
tive Committee  and  Supervisor  first  District;  did  quite  a  lot  of 
organizing  and  lecturing. 

Palijer,  J.  Coleman,  Blackton,  Ark. — Ex-member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee ;  has  been  an  enthusiastic  worker  in  the 
cause  since  the  beginning  of  the  organization  in  his  State. 

Rogers,  J.  E.,  Magnolia,  Ark. — Was  born  in  Columbia  County, 
Arkansas,  March  14,  1865,  and  was  raised  on  the  farm.  Received 
common  school  education.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  joined  the 
Agricultural  Wheel,  and  afterward  the  Alliance.  Was  among  the 
first  to  join  the  Farmers'  Union  in  his  State,  being  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  his  local.  Served  as  local  Secretary-Treasurer  three  years, 
and  is  now  President.  Served  one  year  as  a  member  of  the 
County  Executive  Committee,  and  is  now  Vice-President  of  the 
County  Union.  Was  his  county's  delegate  to  the  first  State  Con- 
vention in  Little  Rock,  in  1905,  and  again  in  1907,  when  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  and  re-elected 
in  1908.  Has  attended  four  National  meetings.  Believes  the 
Union  is  the  greatest  organization  of  farmers  ever  launched. 

Reece,  L.  a.,  Sharon  Springs,  Ark. — A  staunch  leader  from 
Hempstead  County  ;  was  elected  as  a  member  of  the  first  Executive 
Committee ;  has  held  the  office  of  President  in  his  County  LTnion. 
A  hard  worker. 

Smith,  J.  Guy,  New  London,  Ark. — Has  a  record  as  an  organ- 
izer. Beginning  in  his  State  while  the  Union  was  in  its  infancy, 
he  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist  in  the  work.  He  joined  the  third 
Union  organized  in  Arkansas,  and  took  the  field  as  organizer  at 
once.  He  organized  eighteen  counties  in  his  State ;  was  sent  from 
there  to  Louisiana,  where  he  organized  two  parishes.  He  was 
then  given  one  of  the  two  districts  in  Arkansas.  He  was  appointed 
State  Organizer  for  Florida,  and  remained  there  till  the  State  was 
organized.  From  Florida  he  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he  organ- 
ized till  the  fall  of  1908.  From  Kentucky,  he  went  to  Tennessee 
in  the  capacity  of  an  organizer.  But  few  men  have  organized  as 
many  local  Unions  as  Smith. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  279 

Snell,  R.  B.,  Adonas,  Ark. — Has  traveled  through  the  State 
for  four  years,  rciaking  speeches  ahnost  daily ;  traveled  more  than 
5,000  miles ;  was  assistant  editor  of  the  Arkansas.  Union  Tribune 
from  October,  1906,  to  October,  1907 ;  also  editor  of  the  Union 
Department  of  the  Courier  Democrat,  of  Pope  County.  In  all 
these  years  he  has  been  active  and  energetic,  and  has  done  good  and 
faithful  work. 

SoRRELL,  J.  W.,  Jonesboro,  Ark. — Served  three  years  as  Busi- 
ness Agent  of  his  county  ;  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Exec- 
utive Committee  when  the  State  Union  was  organized,  and  re- 
elected at  the  next  meting.     He  has  been  a  good  worker. 

Swift,  C.  A.,  Lamar,  Ark. — County  President  and  delegate  to 
last  National  Convention. 

TuNSTALE,  D.  P.,  Salem,  Ark. — The  subject  of  this  sketch  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  Union  movement  in  the  State 
of  Arkansas  since  its  introduction  there,  having  joined  in  1905 ; 
was  a  delegate  to  the  County  Union ;  by  the  County  Union  elected 
delegate  to  the  State  Imion,  and  by  the  State  Union  to  the  National 
Union  at  Texarkana.  In  February,  1906,  the  State  President 
having  resigned,  D.  P.  Tunstall  was  chosen  by  the  Executive 
Committee  to  serve  out  his  unexpired  term.  He  has  served  three 
years  as  County  President.  In  his  speeches  he  has  stressed  educa- 
tion and  co-operation. 

Tate,  W.  F.,  Camden,  Ark. — A  very  active  leader  in  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  in  the  State  of  Arkansas.  A  big,  broad-minded,  intel- 
ligent man ;  is  not  looking  for  any  office ;  refused  to  let  the  last 
State  Convention  elect  him  as  its  President. 

Vandike,  G.  I.,  ^Magnett,  Ark. — First  Doorkeeper  of  the  State. 

Walker,  W.  D.,  Driggs,  Ark. — Has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life. 
Became  a  charter  member  of  his  local  at  its  organization  in  Febru- 
ary, 1905.  Served  two  years  as  Secretary-Treasurer  of  his  local. 
In  ]\Iarch  of  that  year  the  Boone  County  Union  was  formed,  and 
he  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  served  four  years.  In 
May,  1907,  was  elected  to  attend  the  first  session  of  the  Arkansas 
Cotton  School  at  Conway,  and  to  manage  the  warehouse  at  Mag- 
azine. For  two  seasons  served  as  weigher  for  the  Union  for  all 
cotton  sold  in  the  town.  At  the  State  Convention  in  1908,  was 
elected  on  the  Executive  Committee,  and  was  made  the  secretary. 
Walker  made  a  very  fine  Count}'  Secretary. 


280 


MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


I'KO.MINENT    WOUKEKS,    MISSISSIPPI    DIVISION. 

1.  T.    R.   Palmer,  Ex-Vice-Presldent   of  State   Union, 

2.  M.  A.  P.RowN,  Ex-Member  State  Executive  Committee. 

3.  Thomas  S.  Haynik,  Lecturer. 

4.  T.  ,T.  .ToMNSON,  Ex-Membor  State  Executive  Committee. 
.5.  S.  A.  Shobmakb,  Ex-Momber  State  Executive  Committee. 


OF  THE   farmers'    UNION.  281 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES— CALIFORNIA,    COLORADO, 
FLORIDA. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Henderson,  Paris,  Kingsbtirg,  Cal. — First  Vice-President  of 
Kansas  State  Union.  Was  born  in  Union  County,  Indiana,  June 
14,  1850;  moved  with  his  family  to  Shelby  County,  Illinois,  1855; 
emigrated  to  Kansas,  1872;  has  been  a  member  of  the  Grange  and 
Farmers'  Alliance  in  Kansas ;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  in  Sep- 
tember, 1906;  was  elected  County  President  of  Osage  County 
shortly  after ;  was  elected  Vice  President  of  Kansas  State  Union 
at  the  time  of  organization;  moved  to  California,  1907,  and  is  still 
active  in  the  work.  As  a  young  man,  he  was  a  neighbor  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln.  He  is  untiring  in  his  work  and  has  done  much  to 
build  up  the  Union.  He  was  one  of  the  best  workers  that  ever 
lived  in  the  State  of  Kansas. 

Kneeland,  J.  M.,  Business  Agent,  Kingsburg,  Cal. — Was  born 
February  29,  1872,  on  a  farm  near  Topeka,  Kansas.  At  eighteen 
he  moved  to  California,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  engaged  in 
alfalfa  farming  and  fruit  growing,  owning  an  alfalfa  and  fruit 
farm  near  Kingsburg.  He  became  a  charter  member  of  Kings- 
burg Local  Union  No.  3.  April,  1906,  since  which  time  he  has 
served  as  President,  delegate  to  National  Convention,  and  Business 
Agent.  As  Business  Agent,  he  has  been  a  diligent  and  faithful 
worker  in  securing  co-operation  markets  for  fruit  and  raisins  for 
the  farmers  of  Fresno  County.  Kingsburg  local  Union  had  eleven 
members  to  start  with,  and  has  grown  to  a  membership  of  seventy- 
one  or  more  at  the  present  time. 

Parlier,  C.  a.,  Parlier,  Cal. — A  firm  believer  in  co-operation,  an 
enthusiastic  advocate  of  Farmers'  Union  principles.  A  faithful 
worker. 

Welch,  W.  W.,  Kingsburg,  Cal. — State  Organizer  of  California 
and  ex-State  Business  Agent  of  Mississippi.   It  is  said  that  he  has 


282  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

lived  in  every  State  in  the  Union.     He  is  a  very  energetic  man, 
and  has  had  a  great  deal  of  experience. 

COLORADO. 

Brewer,  John  Franklin,  Manzanola,  Colo. — Was  born  March 
8,  1866,  in  DeKalb  County,  Illinois ;  emigrated  with  his  parents  to 
Missouri,  1875,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools  and  later 
Magee  College;  removed  to  Colorado,  1903,  and  engaged  in  fruit 
farming.  He  became  a  charter  member  of  his  local  Union  at 
Manzanola  in  the  autumn  of  1907,  of  which  he  was  made  Presi- 
dent ;  was  elected  Secretary  of  his  County  Union  when  organized, 
and  re-elected  December  19,  1908;  was  a  delegate  to  the  State 
Union,  where  he  assisted  in  planning  a  constitution.  He  was 
elected  Vice-President  of  the  State  at  this  meeting,  and  still  holds 
the  office.  He  has  assisted  in  the  establishment  of  a  Farmers' 
Co-operative  Coal  Company  at  Pueblo. 

Callicotte,  W.  R.,  Glenwood  Springs,  Colo. — Chaplain  of  the 
Colorado  State  Union,  and  delegate  to  the  National  Convention. 

Holmes,  H.  J.,  Glenwood  Springs,  Colo. — Editor  of  Avalanche 
Echo.     Part  of  his  paper  is  devoted  to  Farmers'  Union  news. 

Johnson^  Milas  N.,  Calhan,  Colo. — Was  born  in  Clinton 
County,  Indiana,  February  14,  1877;  graduated  at  the  high 
school  of  Columbus,  Kansas,  in  May,  1896;  taught  school 
during  the  next  six  years;  established  the  Divide  Farmer, 
a  popular  agricultural  paper,  at  Calhan,  Colorado,  in  January,  1907. 
As  editor  of  this  paper,  he  was  a  potent  factor  in  the  building  of 
the  Farmers'  Union  in  Colorado.  He  was  the  first  Secretary  of 
El  Paso  County  Union,  and  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention 
when  Colorado  was  admitted  into  the  National  Union.  At  this 
convention,  Johnson  received  one-half  of  the  votes  for  State  Secre- 
tary, but  he  asked  that  the  office  be  given  to  the  brother  who  had 
the  same  number  of  votes.  He  was  elected  as  the  first  delegate 
from  Colorado  to  the  National  Convention  at  Fort  Worth,  and  m 
September,  1908,  was  chosen  Secretary  of  the  Colorado  State 
Union.  His  motto,  "Justice  wherever  it  may  lead,"  describes  the 
ambitions  of  this  worthy  worker. 

Lang,  George  B.,  President  Colorado  State  Union,  Langdon, 
Colo. — Was  born  in  Green  County,  Pennsylvania,  September  11, 
1864;  moved  while  a  boy  with  his  parents  to  Iowa,  where  he  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  that  State.  From  1883  to  1890, 
he  engaged  in  teaching  in  Missouri ;  took  a  special  literary  course 


OF  THE  farmers'  union.  283 

in  Neosho  Collegiate  Institute;  published  a  paper  in  1890,  and  has 
owned  and  published  one  or  more  newspapers  ever  since.  He  was 
prominent  in  the  days  of  the  Alliance,  bein"-  State  Organizer  for 
Iowa  (1890-1891),  and  State  Secretary  and  Purchasing  Agent 
(1891-1892);  Assistant  Journal  Clerk,  Kansas  State  Senate 
(1893)  ;  City  Attorney,  Bokchito,  Indian  Territory  (1904).  He 
moved  with  his  wife  and  son  to  Colorado,  1906.  He  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  all  labor  and  reform  movements,  having  served 
as  State,  District,  and  County  Chairman  of  these  movements.  He 
is  at  the  head  of  several  industries  in  his  State.  A  member  of  the 
Knights  of  P}i;hias  and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World ;  does  not 
belong  to  any  church,  but  is  a  member  of  a  society  for  physical 
research.  He  owns  and  edits  the  official  paper  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  and  Knig-hts  of  Industry ;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  in 
1907,  and  was  elected  first  State  President  at  Pueblo  in  1908.  He 
is  prominent!}-  connected  with  many  co-operative  concerns  in  his 
State. 

AI'oNTGOMERY,  B.  F.,  Meeker,  Colo. — Ex-Speaker  of  the  Colo- 
rado Legislature.  A  fine  presiding  officer;  an  able  speaker;  in- 
strumental in  having  some  g'ood  laws  passed.  An  early  member  of 
the  Farmers'  Union,  and  President  of  his  District  Union. 

Manning,  A.  S.,  Secretary-Treasurer,  State  Union,  Rocky 
Ford,  Colo. — Born  on  September  15,  1883,  in  Chicago,  and  moved 
to  Colorado  in  1887,  settling  with  his  mother  on  a  claim.  In  1907, 
the  Rocky  Ford  Union  was  formed,  and  he  joined  it.  Later  he 
moved  his  membership  to  a  local  nearer  his  farm,  and  was  elected 
its  President.  Later  was  appointed  Treasurer  of  the  State  Union. 
In  the  first  State  Convention,  in  1908,  was  elected  to  that  position. 
Is  a  stockholder  in  the  Co-operative  Coal  Company.  Has  aided  in 
organizing  other  Union  enterprises. 

Stovall,  H.  S.,  Ex-Secretary  of  Colorado,  Pueblo,  Colo. — Was 
born  on  a,  farm  in  Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  July  23,  1871 ;  moved 
wuth  his  parents  to  Gentry  County,  Missouri,  December,  1881 ;  at- 
tended the  county  schools,  and  McFall  High  School,  and  the 
Normal  School  at  Chillicothe;  moved  to  Rocky  Ford,  Colorado, 
November,  1906,  and  went  to  farming;  joined  the  Rocky  Ford 
local  as  a  charter  member;  was  its  first  Secretary;  built  up  a  local 
of  over  one  hundred  members  in  two  months.  This  is  now  the 
largest  local  in  the  State ;  was  chosen  State  Secretary  when  State 
was  organized,  which  position  he  now  holds.  He  is  a  "practical  and 
successful  farmer. 


284  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

Sayles,  Pardon,  Peyton,  Colo. — Born  in  Ohio  in  1845,  ^lis 
family  moving  to  Iowa  when  he  was  only  three  years  of  age.  Was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  ran  away  from  home  and  enlisted  in  the  Civil 
War,  serving  to  the  end.  He  was  discharged  in  Atlanta.  Returned 
to  Iowa  and  resumed  farming,  marrying  there.  In  1883  moved  to 
Colorado,  and  owns  a  big  ranch  in  the  shadow  of  Pike's  Peak.  He 
is  State  Organizer  for  the  Union  in  Colorado. 

SciiAEFFER,  H.  H.,  Weldonite,  Colo. — Joined  the  Farmers' 
Union  upon  its  introduction  into  his  State ;  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Convention  in  Pueblo,  where  the  State  Union  was  organized,  and 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Van  Deventer,  J.  W.,  Sterling,  Colo. — Was  born  in  Indiana  in 
1849,  and  moved  West  with  his  parents  while  an  infant.  Grad- 
uated from  the  Kansas  Agricultural  College  in  1886,  and  is  now  a 
newspaper  man  by  profession,  devoting  his  time  to  that  profession. 
Is  State  Statistician  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  has  collected  and 
published  many  valuable  facts  concerning  the  State.  He  is  a 
strong  Union  man.  He  is  chief  clerk  of  the  Printing  Committee  of 
the  Colorado  General  Assembly. 

Wilson,  F.  W.,  Pueblo,  Colo. — The  beet  growers  of  the  Arkan- 
sas Vallev  became  interested  in  the  Union,  believing  that  it  would 
aid  them  in  their  fight  against  the  trust,  and  the  Pleasant  Valley 
local  was  formed,  its  membership  being  largely  of  beet  growers. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  the  organizers.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Directors  in  1908.  Is  an 
earnest  and  hard-working  member  of  the  organization. 

FLORIDA. 

Anderson,  J.  R.,  l^nion,  Fla. — Is  a  farmer  and  a  Baptist  min- 
ister. Served  last  year  as  State  Secretary.  He  is  at  present  State 
Chaplain,  and  is  a  good  worker. 

Anderson,  M.  B.,  Edwards,  Fla. — Is  a  leading  farmer  of  that 
section,  and  is  a  faithful  working  Union  man.  He  holds  a  commis- 
sion as  County  Organizer,  and  has  done  some  good  work  in  his 
territory. 

Allen,  R.  J.,  Eive  Oak,  Fla. — One  of  the  first  men  of  his  coun- 
try to  join  the  Union ;  was  a  charter  member  of  the  first  Union 
organized.     Pie  defends  Union  principles  wherever  he  goes. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  285 

Buchanan,  A.  L.,  Sopchoppy,  Fla. — Is  a  Baptist  preacher  and 
editor  of  a  weekly  newspaper.  He  is  at  present  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee.     He  is  a  very  enthusiastic  worker. 

Carlisle,  W.  M.,  Gainesville,  Fla. — Formerly  County  Lecturer 
for  Bradford  County;  delegate  to  State  meeting  at  Tallahassee 
when  State  was  organized,  where  he  was  elected  State  Lecturer  and 
delegate  to  National  Convention  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas ;  trav- 
eled about  4.500  miles  on  lecturing  tours  in  his  State. 

Falkner,  T.  Z.,  Perry,  Fla. — A  young  farmer  full  of  pluck  and 
energy.  He  is  a  pioneer  member  of  the  L^nion  in  his  State;  was 
present  when  the  State  was  organized. 

Gunn,  E.  O.,  South  Jacksonville,  Fla. — Formerly  President 
Bibb  County,  Georgia,  Union.  Has  been  prominent  as  a  Lecturer 
and  Organizer  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  Organized  and  re-organ- 
ized sixty  locals;  traveled  about  2,700  miles  and  made  no 
speeches. 

Hayes,  W.  H.,  Alachua,  Fla. — Joined  the  Union  about  fifteen 
months  ago ;  was  elected  Chairman  of  Local  Executive  Committee, 
then  elected  Treasurer  and  Business  Manager  of  Alachua  County 
Stock  Company ;  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  State  Executive 
Committee  in  July,  and  appointed  Chairman  of  the  State  Cotton 
Sales  Committee  by  State  President  in  August,  1908;  was  elected 
by  vState  Executive  Committee  a  member  of  the  National  Cotton 
Committee  at  the  Tri-State  Convention  held  by  the  sea  island  cot- 
ton growers  in  Valdosta.  He  w^as  appointed  Manager  and  Sales- 
man of  that  company. 

Haddock,  James,  King's  Ferry,  Fla. — Joined  as  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  his  local  L^nion.  Has  kept  his  local  Union  together,  and  is 
still  faithfully  fighting'  for  Union  principles. 

Jackson,  J.  A.,  Jasper,  Fla. — Has  for  several  years  been  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  his  county ;  is  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools  for  that  county.  He  has  been  active 
in  the  work  of  the  Union  since  its  advent  into  the  State.  He  is 
now  Chairman  of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  and  is  render- 
ing efficient  service.  He  also  serves  his  county  as  Secretary- 
Treasurer. 

Knight,  M.  S.,  President  Florida  Division,  Lake  City,  Fla. — 
Was  born  in  Lowndes  County,  Georgia,  January  14,  1866.  His 
father,  Hampton  Knight,  served  with  the  Confederate  army  as  a 
soldier  during-  the   Civil  War.     After  the   war  he   returned   to 


286  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

Lowndes  County  and  devoted  his  time  to  farming.  Here  on  a 
farm  was  born  3,1.  S.  Knight,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  had  but  few  school  advantages.  He 
attended  the  neighborhood  schools,  which  were  of  short  dura- 
tion ;  taught  for  tw^o  or  three  months  during  the  winters.  From 
Lowndes  County  M.  S.  Knight  moved  to  Columbia  County,  Flor- 
ida, in  the  winter  of  1885,  where  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  for  four  years.  From  1895  to  1899,  ^^^  was  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Public  Instruction  of  Columbia  County ;  was  elected 
representative  from  Columbia  County  to  the  Florida  Legislature 
(1899),  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  Investigating  Commission 
appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  inquire  into  the  doings  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Internal  Improvement  Fund.  He  was  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  Florida  Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union  at  Lake  City, 
Florida,  Jvly  16,  1908.  He  is  a  farmer  and  resides  on  his  farm, 
eight  miles  north  of  Lake  City.  He  is  also  trustee  of  the  Colum- 
bia Baptist  College  at  Lake  City. 

Locke,  S.  W.,  State  Lecturer  and  Organizer,  Bonifay,  Fla. — 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  S.  W.  Locke,  was  elected  State  Lecturer 
and  Organizer  for  the  Florida  Division  at  the  State  meeting  held 
in  Lake  City,  1908.  He  has  traveled  throughout  the  State, 
making  speeches  and  getting  his  organizing  force  into  shape.  He 
is  well  qualified  to  fill  the  office  which  he  now  holds,  and  under 
his  administration  Florida  has  been  greatly  benefited,  and  the  cause 
of  the  Union  very  much  advanced.  He  devotes  his  time  and  energy 
to  the  upbuilding  of  the  Union  in  his  State. 

MiZELL,  O.  L.,  Dukes,  Fla. — Ex-State  Business  Agent  of 
Florida ;  Delegate  to  the  State  Union  at  Tallahassee,  where  he 
was  elected  Business  Agent ;  has  been  working  along  the  lines  of 
equitable  prices  for  fertilizers ;  has  done  much  to  organize  the 
warehouse  system  in  his  State.  At  present  he  is  Secretary-Treas- 
urer of  the  L^nion  Sea  Island  Company,  with  headquarters  at  Sa- 
vannah. 

Pledger,  C.  E.,  ATarianna.  Fla. — Has  been  identified  very  prom- 
inently with  the  growth  of  the  Union  in  the  State,  he  having 
served  one  year  as  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  is 
now  Vice-President  of  the  State.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  Jackson  County,  and  is  a  progressive  man.  He  is  connected 
with  the  management  of  the  cotton  warehouse  at  Cottondale,  and 
has  been  active  in  pushing  the  interest  of  the  Union  both  in  season 
and  out  of  it. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  287 

PuMPHREY,  J,  R.,  Wewahitchka,  Fla. — Secretary-Treasurer  of 
the  Florida  State  Union;  elected  at  the  State  Convention  of  1908; 
is  a  teacher,  and  said  to  be  a  good  teacher.    He  is  an  active  worker. 

SiiEPPARD,  J.  L.,  Member  Executive  Committee,  Greensboro, 
Fla. — Was  elected  County  Business  Agent,  and  has  served  in  that 
capacity  till  the  present  time ;  a  member  of  the  State  Executive 
Committee,  and  doing  all  in  his  power  to  make  a  success  of  the 
work  in  and  for  the  Union. 

Tkaywick,  G.  N.,  Ex-State  President,  Mayo,  Fla. — The  ex- 
State  President  of  Florida  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Alabama, 
March  12,  1861.  His  father,  Louis  Tray  wick,  died  in  the  Con- 
federate army.  Young  Traywick's  mother  moved  to  LaFayette 
County  in  1868,  where  she  died,  March,  1874.  He  was  a  leading 
member  of  the  Farmer's'  Alliance.  When  the  Farmers'  Union 
came  around,  was  among  the  first  in  his  county  to  join ;  was  elected 
County  President  and  County  Business  Agent.  When  the  conven- 
tion met  at  Tallahassee,  July,  1907,  to  organize  the  State  Union, 
he  was  elected  President,  and  served  one  year.  He  is  a  farmer 
and  preacher ;  has  had  some  experience  in  real  estate  and  timber. 

Von  Elexson,  Eric^  Laurel  Hill,  Fla. — Editor  and  proprietor 
of  Our  Southern  Home,  and  Member  of  the  State  Executive  Com- 
mittee ;  also  President  of  the  Florida-Alabama  District  Union  ;  has 
always  attended  all  of  his  meetings ;  is  a  very  active  worker. 

Wise,  E.  R.,  Live  Oak,  Fla. — County  Organizer ;  has  organized 
a  number  of  local  Unions  and  made  speeches  in  every  section  of 
his  county.  He  is  one  of  the  strongest  Union  men  in  his  section  of 
the  State. 


288 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


STATK  OI'IKIAI.S  A\lt  KXSTATI-:  ()l-|'l(  I ALS,  SOUTH  CAROLINA 

DIVISION. 

1.  i;.   llAKitis,   rrosidont:  of  State  Union. 

li.  Jl.  I".  i;aui.i;,  lO.x-Stato  Secretary-Treasurer. 

'^.  A.    .].    A.    I'lnturPT.    Vlce-rresidont. 

4.  T.  T.  WakkfiivI,!),  Kx-Vlep-Trcsldent  State  Union. 

.").  J.  AViiiTNKR  Ilr.ii),  State  Soerotary-Trea.surer. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  289 


CHAPTER  XXVI 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES— GEORGIA. 

Anderson,  J.  D.,  Woodstock,  Ga. — Joined  as  a  charter  member 
of  the  ninth  local  organization  in  the  State ;  this  was  May,  1904 ; 
was  elected  V^ice-President  of  Cherokee  County  Union  when  it 
was  organized.  May,  1904;  December,  1904,  was  elected  County 
President;  May,  1905,  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  State  TJnion, 
which  was  organized  at  Thomaston.  He  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee  at  this  meeting,  a  position  that  he  has 
held  ever  since.  He  has  been  active  in  the  organizing  work,  and 
wise  in  his  counsel  whenever  and  wherever  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee has  had  occasion  to  meet. 

Alday,  G.  B.,  Iron  City,  Ga. — One  of  the  most  patient  men  in 
the  organization;  has  worked  and  succeeded  in  keeping  in  line 
witli  co-operation  channels  against  many  difficulties,  his  county 
having  few  locals ;  believes  in  co-operation ;  has  been  County 
Business  Agent  ever  since  his  county  was  organized ;  is  one  of  the 
most  patient  and  hard-working  men  that  is  to  be  found  in  South 
Georgia. 

Allen,  T.  C,  Broxton,  Ga. — President  Coffee  County  Farmers' 
Union ;  now  serving  his  third  term  as  President  of  that  county ; 
joined  Rudy  Branch  local,  1905  ;  served  as  President  of  said  local 
three  years ;  has  made  some  sacrifices. 

Barrett,  Charles  Simon,  National  President,  Union  City, 
Ga. — The  National  President  of  the  Farmers'  Union  was  born 
on  a  farm  in  Pike  County,  Georgia,  January  28,  1866,  and  was 
educated  in  the  country  schools  of  Georgia,  and  the  colleges  of 
Kentucky,  Ohio,  and  Indiana.  After  returning  from  college,  he 
settled  in  Pike  County,  Georgia,  where  he  married  Miss  Alma 
Rucker,  November  5,  1891.  They  have  five  children,  Paul, 
Charles,  Flowell,  Leland,  and  Gaines.  He  joined  the  Farmers' 
Alliance  at  the  first  opportunity  ;  he  also  joined  the  Farmers'  Union 
the  first  opportunity.  He  was  twice  elected  President  of  the 
Georgia  Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  in   1906  he  was 

19 


290  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

elected  President  of  the  National  Union.  He  was  re-elected  in 
1907,  and  again  in  1908;  has  never  held  any  political  office.  He 
has  always  believed  that  he  could  do  more  good  for  his  people  in 
the  private  walks  of  life  than  it  would  be  possible  for  him  to  do 
as  a  public  official. 

Barron_,  Jared  Lee,  Union  City,  Ga. — One  of  the  type  of  virile, 
able  young  men  drawn  into  the  Union  by  strong  zeal  for  its  prin- 
ciples, and  an  earnest  desire  to  help  better  the  condition  of  the 
laboring  masses.  That  he  has  been  a  potent  factor  in  the  organiza- 
tion in  his  native  State,  is  amply  proven  by  his  steady  rise  in  the 
organization's  counsels.  That  still  wider  fields  of  usefulness  are 
open  to  him  is  assured  by  his  vigorous  young  manhood  and  his 
sterling  worthiness  of  character.  He  was  born  near  Atwater, 
I'pson  County,  Georgia,  June  8,  1883.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
but  a  progressive  man  and  an  advocate  of  good  schools  and  gen- 
eral progress.  He  instilled  into  his  toy  the  idea  of  doing  some- 
thing, and  that  idea  struck  deep  and  took  root.  Young  Barron 
attended  a  school  taught  by  Charles  S.  Barrett,  at  Atwater,  and  a 
friendship  strong  and  enduring  and  helpful  grew  up  between  them. 
At  the  age  of  19  he  began  teaching  himself,  following  that  occupa- 
tion several  years.  Part  of  that  time  he  worked  on  the  farm.  He 
was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Georgia  Division  of  the 
Farmers'  Pinion  in  Alay,  1906,  and  served  with  ability  in  that  ca- 
pacity to  January  i,  1908,  wdien  he  resigned  to  accept  the  place 
of  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Pinion  Phosphate  Company  of 
Georgia.  For  two  years  he  published  the  Farmers'  Union  Nezcs, 
and  through  hard  work  built  up  a  strong  paper  with  a  good  circula- 
tion. He  was  teaching  when  the  paper  was  started,  and  he 
walked  to  Thomaston  every  week  to  mail  his  papers  out,  then 
back  to  take  up  the  duties  of  the  schoolroom.  He  has  been 
three  tinges  a  delegate*  to  national  conventions,  and  each  time 
served  on  important  committees.  He  was  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee of  five  that  drafted  the  present  National  Constitution  at 
Tcxarkana  in  .September,  1906,  an  unusual  honor  to  be  conferred 
on  a  man  so  \-oung.  P)Ut  those  who  placed  him  there  knew  his 
w^nrth  and  his  sound  judgment  in  big  matters,  and  he  "made  good" 
along  with  the  ablest  of  them.  He  was  one  of  the  delegates  from 
Georgia  representing  the  Farmers'  Pinion  in  the  National  Co- 
operative Business  Congress  in  Topeka,  Kansas,  in  October,  1906, 
where  he  again  attracted  attention  by  his  clear  views  and  sound 
judgment  in  important  matters.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows, Woodmen  of  the  World,  Junior  Order.  Knights  of  Pythias, 
a  Master  Ma«on,  Knight  Templar  and  a  Shriner.     He  is  one  of 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  291 

the  really  strong-  young-  men  in  the  Union,  and  his  career  is  bright 
with  prospects. 

BoDEN HAMMER,  J.  E.,  UnioH  City,  Ga. — Is  Business  Manager 
of  the  Farmers'  Union  News,  Union  City.,  Ga.,  and  has  spent  his 
life  in  building  up  printing  plants  and  demanding  the  Union  Label. 
He  is  an  enthusiastic  I'nion  man,  and  belongs  to  both  the  Farmers' 
Union  and  the  Typographical  Union ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  Little 
Rock  meeting ;  has  been  a  delegate  to  most  of  the  State  meetings, 
and  was  a  delegate  to  the  International  Typographical  Conven- 
tion held  in  Boston  in  1908,  representing  Atlanta  Typographical 
Union  No.  48.  He  has  spent  much  time  in  lecturing  and  organiz- 
ing. In  1908,  he  was  selected  the  fraternal  delegate  to  represent 
the  National  Farmers'  Union  at  the  International  Federation  Con- 
vention held  at  Norfolk,  Va. 

Brown.  J.  P.  H.,  Augusta,  Ga. — One  of  the  leading  Union  mem- 
bers of  Richmond  County.  He  is  a  persistent  and  patient  worker 
in  uplifting  the  farmers  of  his  county ;  has  been  County  President 
of  the  Grange  and  the  Alliance,  and  was  President  of  Richmond 
County  Farmers'  Union.  He  is  working  to  get  the  people  to  raise 
home  supplies  and  to  co-operate.  He  says  it  is  an  axiom  that : 
"Unless  the  farmer  makes  his  supplies  on  the  farm,  it  makes  no 
difference  if  cotton  brings  15  cents,  the  farmer  will  be  no  better 
ofif." 

BiRDSONG,  J.  S.,  Prominent  Leader,  Mayfield,  Ga. — As  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer of  his  local  Union,  he  has  done  good  and  faithful 
work.    By  his  efforts,  the  Union  has  been  kept  alive  in  his  section. 

Brake,  L.,  A.,  Faithful  Worker,  Crawfordville,  Ga. — Has  trav- 
eled thousands  of  miles,  making  speeches  and  talking  L'nion.  He 
says  that  he  has  talked  Farmers'  Union  till  others  say  that  he  is  a 
"crank"  upon  the  subject,  but  cranks  like  him  turn  things  over.  He 
has  done  splendid  work  whenever  and  wherever  he  has  gone. 

Brumceloe,  W.  D.,  Barnsville,  Ga. — Has  been  a  very  active 
member  of  the  I'nion.  He  has  visited  a  number  of  rallies  and  did 
a  lot  of  w'ork  in  a  quiet  way.  While  he  has  never  made  many 
speeches,  he  has  never  lost  an  opportunity  to  put  in' a  good  word 
for  the  Union  cause  in  every  place  where  he  has  gone.  His  ener- 
gies have  been  devoted  to  the  forward  movement  of  the  Union. 

BuRN.s,  J.  W.,  Adairsville,  Ga. — Ex-Doorkeeper  Georgia  State 
Union.  Member  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  of  Bar- 
tow Comity,  and  full-blooded  l"^nion  man.    He  has  spent  consider- 


292  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND  TIMES 

able  time  and  some  money  in  his  work  for  the  Union.  His  work 
has  been  done  in  a  quiet  but  effective  manner.  He  is  wilhng-  to 
work  and  to  wait,  beheving-  that  the  ultimate  success  of  the  Union 
is  assured. 

Ballinger^  N.  F.,  Temple,  Ga. — Organizer.  Began  organizing 
October  9,  1905  ;  has  traveled  3.000  miles  in  the  work;  organized 
many  local  Unions  in  DeKalb,  Walton,  Haralson,  Paulding,  Doug- 
las, Carroll,  Cherokee,  and  Cobb.  He  initiated  John  L.  Lee,  the 
present  State  President,  into  the  Union. 

Brinson^  R.  L.,  Woodcliffe,  Ga. — Livest  Business  Agent  in  his 
section  of  the  State;  believes  in  co-operation  through  the  State 
Business  Department ;  believes  in  living  as  well  as  preaching  the 
principles  of  the  Farmers'  Union;  has  labored  for  the  cause  in  his 
section  against  numerous  disadvantages. 

Bolton^  W.  H.,  Milner,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  four  and  one- 
half  years  ago  under  Organizer  C.  S.  Barrett;  has  attended  a  great 
many  county  and  State  meetings,  and  national  rallies  ;  has  attended 
every  meeting  of  his  local  Union  since  its  organization ;  has  been 
County  President  for  one  year.  His  local  Union  has  built  and 
operates  a  warehouse.    He  is  a  good,  faithful  member. 

Bird,  W.  H.,  Dayton,  Ga. — President  of  Whitfield  County  Union 
two  terms ;  assisted  in  organizing  a  $3,000  warehouse  company 
and  a  $4,000  ginnery ;  made  a  hundred  speeches  while  President 
of  the  County  Union. 

Bazemore,  T.  N.,  Butler,  Ga. — Conductor  State  Union  and 
Organizer;  traveled  5,000  miles  ;  made  150  speeches;  organized  27 
local  Unions ;  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  at  Texarkana, 
1905.    He  has  been  Conductor  of  the  State  Union  for  four  years. 

Barron,  Zach  _  Everett,  Atwater,  Ga. — Organizer  and  Lec- 
turer; did  quite  a  lot  of  organizing  and  lecturing  in  different  parts 
of  Georgia, 

Brown,  Lawson  E.,  Sandersvillc,  Ga. — Member  of  the  State 
Agricultural  Committee;  one  of  the  staunchest  friends  in  Wash- 
ington County;  an  earnest  believer  in  reform. 

Boring,  John,  Woodstock,  Ga. — One  of  the  first  Organizers  of 
the  Farmers'  Union  in  Georgia.  He  is  never  too  tired,  the  weather 
never  too  bad  for  I'nclc  John  to  sacrifice  time  and  feeling  to  do  a 
good  turn  for  the  organization. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION,  293 

Bell,  J.  T.,  Canton,  Ga. — One  of  the  oldest  members  of  this 
organization  in  the  State ;  kept  his  local  Union  alive  three  years 
without  a  charter.  He  is  a  persistent  believer  in  co-operation,  and 
has  done  a  great  deal  of  work  for  the  Union  in  Cherokee  County. 

IjEVERLv,  J.  T.,  Thomaston,  Ga. — Successful  warehouseman; 
was  an  influential  member  of  the  Alliance;  never  did  leave  the 
Alliance  or  Populist  party,  and  will  never  quit  the  Farmers'  Union. 

Brown,  J.  Pope,  Hawkins ville,  Ga. — Delegate  to  the  last  Na- 
tional Convention;  ex-Railroad  Conmiissioner,  and  very  prosper- 
ous farmer. 

Bell,  Z.  R.,  Roopville,  Ga. — Ex-Sergeant-at-Arms  of  the  Na- 
tional Union ;  has  done  a  great  deal  of  organizing. 

Brown,  J.  I.,  Ochlochnee,  Ga. — One  of  the  leading  Business 
Agents  in  South  Georgia ;  is  always  found  laboring  for  advance- 
ment of  the  laboring  class. 

Barrett,  S.  S.,  Zebulon,  Ga. — Ex-Chairman  of  State  Executive 
Committee,  ex-Member  County  Board  of  Education,  ex-County 
Commissioner,  and  prosperous  farmer. 

Burgess,  C,  T.,  Ashland,  Ga. — Lectured  to  all  local  Unions  in 
his  county  last  year,  and  did  work  in  Banks  and  Madison  Coun- 
ties ;  is  a  good  worker. 

Barron,  R.  L.,  Zebulon,  Ga. — Ex-State  Lecturer;  has  done  some 
organizing  work ;  a  bright  young  man. 

Carmical,  D.  a..  Union  City,  Ga. — Founder  of  Union  City, 
Georgia ;  was  born  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1867 ;  was  raised  on  the 
farm ;  received  his  schooling  at  Moreland,  Ga.  He,  being  the 
youngest  child,  and  his  parents  old,  the  responsibility  of  looking 
after  his  father's  farm  fell  upon  him  when  quite  young.  He  moved 
to  Campbell  County,  1889,  and  continued  to  farm.  Qn  the  13th 
day  of  October,  1889,  he  married  Miss  Cora  J.  Westbrook, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  R.  Westbrook,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  farmers  of  Campbell  County,  who  resided  for  about 
fifty  years  on  the  farm  where  Union  City  is  now  located.  Carmi- 
cal, seeing  the  great  need  of  improved  agricultural  implements, 
he  began  inventing  and  manufacturing  a  new  line  of  implements, 
in  which  he  continued  to  improve  until  he  has  a  line  of  the  best 
agricultural  implements  on  the  market,  which  doubles  the  capacity 
of  the  farm  in  many  respects,  and  does  better  work  than  the  old 
methods.    Pie  has  received  the  highest  award  on  all  his  machines 


294  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

at  every  fair  entered,  and  his  machines  have  become  very  popular 
in  almost  every  State  in  the  cotton  belt.  In  1903,  soon  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  R.  Westbrook,  D,  A.  Carmical  pur- 
chased their  old  homestead,  where  Union  City  is  now  built.  He 
used  this  as  a  farm  until  1907,  at  which  time,  through  great  oppo- 
sition, he  succeeded  iii  getting  the  A.,  B.  &  A.  Railway  to  locate 
through  his  farm,  at  which  place  they  made  a  connection  with  the 
Atlanta  &  West  Point  Railway.  Having  accomplished  this,  he  saw 
that  he  had  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  for  a  town  in  the  South. 
He  soon  succeeded  in  getting  Farmers'  Union  headquarters 
located  at  this  place. 

Campbell,  J.  P.,  Washington,  D.  C. — His  first  official  work  o't 
the  Georgia  Division  was  on  an  educational  committee  to  confer 
with  the  Governor  about  the  curriculum  for  the  Agricultural 
Schools  of  the  State ;  engaged  to  travel  over  the  State  and  recom- 
mend these  agricultural  schools ;  went  to  every  congressional  dis- 
trict ;  traveled  a  distance  of  10,000  miles,  and  made  500  speeches ; 
traveled  through  the  Second  Congressional  District  in  company 
with  Congressman  Griggs,  and  experts  from  the  Department  of 
Agriculture ;  is  now  wath  the  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  He  is  doing  all  he  can  to  build  up  the  agricultural 
interests  of  his  country. 

CoKER,  W.  M.,  Ex-State  Lecturer,  Union  City,  Ga. — Has  been 
very  active  in  pushing  the  work  of  organizing  the  Farmers'  Union 
in  Georgia ;  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Banks  County,  Georgia,  the  3d 
day  of  INIay,  1855.  He  had  but  few  school  advantages,  having 
to  work  on  the  farm  for  a  living  from  ten  years  of  age  up  till  he 
was  a  man.  After  marriage  he  took  a  course  in  mechanical  engi- 
neering. He  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  in  Pike  County,  his  home, 
among  the  first,  and  since  that  time  has  been  actively  at  work  for 
the  Union.  He  was  for  two  years  Special  Lecturer  for  the  State, 
and  was  elected  State  Lecturer  in  November,  1908. 

Carlton,  Grady,  Monroe,  Ga. — Secretary-Treasurer  of  Walton 
County.  Has  devoted  his  time  and  energy  to  building  up  the 
Union  in  his  county;  joined  the  Union  at  16,  and  was  elected 
Secretary-Treasurer  when  the  County  Union  was  organized ;  con- 
ducts the  Farmers'  L"'^nion  Department  of  the  Walton  News.  His 
official  connection  with  his  County  Union  is  remarkable  for  a 
young  man  19  years  of  age. 

Cooper,  D.  B.,  Lithonia,  Ga. — Vice-President  of  County  LTnion. 
His  local  or  ccunt\'  meeting  never  misses  his  face;  State  meetings 


OF    THE    FARMERS      UNION.  2*J5 

and  business  meetings  always  find  this  earnest  worker  carrying  his 
part  of  the  burden.  A  strong  advocate  of  protection  through 
organization. 

CiiASTAiN,  R.  R.,  Thomas ville,  Ga. — President  of  Thomas 
County  Union  since  the  organization  of  that  county.  A  splendid 
executive  and  an  earnest  worker;  a  loyal  supporter  of  all  the 
institutions  of  the  organization.     A  true,  consecrated  Union  man. 

CoKER,  W.  H.,  Union  City,  Ga. — Has  been  in  the  employ  of  the 
Union  Phosphate  Company  since  1908.  During  the  time  the  plant 
was  being  erected,  he  was  general  superintendent  and  paymaster ; 
traveled  in  the  interest  of  the  company  during  April,  1908;  on  his 
return,  was  given  a  position  as  clerk  in  the  office,  which  position 
he  now  holds ;  has  made  special  trips  in  the  interest  of  the  com- 
pany. 

Culpepper,  Joel,  Curryville,  Ga. — Has  been  identified  with  the 
Farmers'  Union  ever  since  its  introduction  into  Northwest  Geor- 
gia ;  has  served  as  President  of  Gordon  County  Union  sincfe  its 
organization ;  delegate  to  several  State  meetings  and  a  promoter 
of  the  warehouse  in  his  county.  Plas  been  Secretary-Treasurer 
ever  since  the  organization  of  West  Local  Union ;  was  delegate  to 
National  Convention  at  New  Orleans. 

Carnes,  A.  B.,  Lindale,  Ga. — Born  in  Polk  County,  Georgia, 
March  2.2,  187 1,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm.  Served  as  President 
of  the  Floyd  County  Union  in  1907,  and  was  re-elected  in  1908. 
Was  elected  President  of  the  Union  organization  for  the  Seventh 
Congressional  District,  composed  of  thirteen  counties,  and  has  been 
re-elected  every  year  since. 

Clements,  B.  S.,  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Ga. — Has  been  a 
faithful  worker  in  Aleriwether  County,  devoting  his  time  and 
paying  his  own  expenses  to  visit  the  local  Unions  of  his  county; 
was  the  first  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Local  Union  No.  4,  and  has 
been  Secretary-Treasurer  of  his  County  Union  since  organization. 

Cavender,  W.  W.,  ex-President  Coweta  County  Union,  Sar- 
gent, Ga. — Was  first  President  of  Coweta  County  Union ;  traveled 
several  hundred  miles  on  business  connected  with  the  Union ;  never 
missed  a  meeting  of  local  or  county ;  never  failed  to  make  a  talk 
at  every  meeting,  and  has  worked  in  season  and  out  of  season 
for  the  success  of  his  county. 

Cash,  R.  W.,  Jackson,  Ga. — ^Has  served  as  President  of  his 
local  Union  since  1907.     Previous  to  that  time,  was  a  member  of 


296 


IsnSSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


STATK  OFFiriALS  AND  EX-STATE  OFFICIALS,  SOUTH  CAROLINA 
DIVISION. 

1.  I,.  L.  I'.AKEii,  Menibor  Stale  Exociitlve  Committee. 

2.  T.  ('.  WiLLobiiiiiiv,  i:x  .Member  Slate  Executive  Committee. 

3.  O.  P.  Goodwin,  Mcinber  State  i;xe<:utive  Committee. 

4.  W.  U.  Tauk-S,  Member  State  Executive  Committee. 

5.  JosKMi  L.  Kkitt,  Meniljer  State  Executive  Committee. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  '297 

the  County  Executive  Committee,  and  has  been  {icle.e:ate  to  State 
meetings ;  has  assisted  in  ort^anizinc;'  several  local  Unions.  He  is 
the  representative  of  the  Union  Phosphate  Company  in  Henry 
County. 

Cooper,  T.  T.,  Hoschton,  Ga. — Was  born  !^Iarch  18,  1849,  '^^ 
Hall  County,  Georgia ;  has  been  a  member  of  the  Alliance  and 
kindred  organizations ;  joined  the  Union  when  it  was  first  organ- 
ized in  Jackson  County  ;  was  elected  President  of  his  local,  and 
later  became  County  President.  He  is  an  ardent  Union  worker, 
and  every  member  of  his  immediate  family  are  supporters  of  the 
order. 

Coleman,  I.  F.,  Doerun,  Ga. — Local  Business  Agent  and  one 
of  the  recognized  leaders  of  South  Georgia ;  believes  in  co- 
operation, and. believes  in  living  as  well  as  preaching  the  cause  of 
co-operation. 

Camp.  A.  S.,  Bartow,  Ga. — Local  Business  Agent ;  the  first 
Business  Agent  of  his  local ;  one  of  the  first  to  join  the  Union  in 
his  county.     A  persistent  worker. 

CowN,  S.  M.,  Union  City,  Ga. — Has  organized  in  Bartow  and 
lectured  to  locals  in  this  and  adjoining  counties ;  assistant  editor 
Agricultural  Department  of  the  Union  News. 

Childs,  W.  H.,  Greensboro,  Ga. — County  Business  Agent;  one 
of  the  best  co-operators  in  the  State ;  believes  in  co-operation 
through  the  business  department. 

Cooper,  A.  H.,  Pavo,  Ga. — Is  always  present  at  business  and 
State  meetings,  and  by  his  sane  counsel  carries  great  weight.  He 
is  a  power  in  his  county  and  in  his  community. 

Colquitt,  John,  Thomaston,  Ga. — Vice-President  of  his  County 
Union ;  successful  farmer.     He  is  an  honest  man. 

CowART,  Walter,  Union  City,  Ga. — Advertising  Manager  of 
the  Farmers'  Union  News.    A  hustler  and  a  bright  young  man. 

Duckworth,  Robert  Franklin,  ex-National  President,  Union 
City,  Ga. — Some  men  win  success  through  some  strange  turn  in 
life's  wheel  of  chance,  through  some  sheer  stroke  of  luck  seized 
upon  at  the  opportune  moment.  Others  win  by  hard  and  persistent 
endeavor,  grinding  toil,  privations,  coupled  with  deeply  ingrained 
character  and  purposefulness.  The  first  build  on  unstable  founda- 
tion.   The  last  is  bedded  deep  in  the  rock.    The  one  may  totter  to 


298  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

a  fall,  without  ability  to   rise  again.     The  other  may  grope  in 
darkness  and  uncertaint}',  but  will  find  the  enduring  success  in  the 
end.     Of  the  last  named  type  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.     He 
belongs  to  the  aggressive,  persevering  kind.    A  look  at  his  square, 
rugged  jaw  tells  much.     Here  is  a  strong  and  dependable  man, 
a  friend  to  be  trusted  in  the  deepest  sense  of  the  word ;  a  foeman 
who  fights  out  in  the  open,  but  who  fights  with  grim  and  deter- 
mined purposefulness.     He  generally  wuas,  but  when  he  loses  it 
only  makes  him  fight  the  harder  the  next  time.     He  was  born  in 
Texas  on  a  plantation,  and  his  earlier  years  were  spent  in  the  hard 
and  grinding  toil  of  most  farmer  boys.    But  he  began  to  feel  the 
stir  of  ambition  early  in  life.     He  attended  college  at  DeSoto, 
Reinhart,  and  Ravenna.    At  the  age  of  26  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Iva  L.  Gilpin.    In  December,  1902,  he  joined  the  Farmers'  Union, 
and  was  elected  President  of  the  local  Union.    He  was  present  at 
the  organization  of  the  Hopkins  County  Union  in  1903,  the  first 
to  be  organized.     In  February  of  that  year  he  began  work  as  an 
organizer,  and  since  then  all  his  splendid  energies  and  ability  have 
been  devoted  to  building  up  the  Union.    He  was  the  first  National 
Organizer  elected  by  the  board  of  ten.    In  November,  1903,  he  was 
sent  to  Georgia  as  an  organizer,  and  here  he  showed  his  dauntless 
fighting  c[ualities.      He  organized  the  first  Union  in  Georgia  on 
December   14,   1903.      While  he  was  working  for  the  Union  in 
Texas,  he,  with  the  lamented  Newt.  Gresham,  founder  of  the  or- 
ganization, started  the  first  Union  paper,  the  Passzvord.    When  he 
came  to  Georgia,  he  met  with  strong  opposition.     That  aroused 
his  fighting  blood,  and  he  gave  up  his  place  with  the  National 
Order  and  the  Passzvord,  and  devoted  his  entire  time  to  Georgia, 
becoming  State  Organizer.     In  September,   1904,  he  established 
the  Farmers'  Union  A^eivs,  and  fought  through  its  columns.      In 
the  spring  of  1905,  the  State  Union  of  Georgia  was  organized  at 
Thomaston,  and   he  was   elected   Secretary-Treasurer.      Shortly 
afterward  O.  P.  Pyle,  of  Texas,  resigned  as  National  President, 
and  the  National  Board  of  Directors  elected  Duckworth  to  succeed 
him.     He  served  until  the  national  meeting  in  1906,  when  he  de- 
clined to  allow  his  name  used  for  re-election,  and  Charles  S.  Bar- 
rett was  chosen.    Barrett  resigned  as  Georgia  President,  and  Duck- 
worth succeeded  him.    He  was  re-elected  in  Atlanta  in  July,  1907, 
and  again  at  Macon  in  1908.    In  October  of  that  year  he  resigned. 
He  was  twice  elected  Chairman  of  the  National  Legislative  Com- 
mittee,    No  truer  man  to  Union  principles  or  one  more  tireless  in 
his  work  for  them  ever  lived.     Since  he  came  to  Georgia,  Duck- 
worth has  worked  almost  night  and  day  to  make  it  powerful.    He 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  299 

is  editor  of  the  fanners'  Union  News,  a  live  and  prosperous  paper. 
He  also  heads  a  farmers'  life  insurance  company.  He  is  a  man 
to  be  relied  upon  at  all  times  in  all  places  of  trust. 

DiCKEv,  Dr.  John  T.,  Sycamore,  Ga. — Joined  as  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  first  local  Union  organization  in  Irwin  County.  When 
the  new  county  of  Turner  was  organized,  was  elected  President  of 
that  county  ;  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  establishment 
of  the  warehouse  at  Sycamore.  Under  his  direction,  the  warehouse 
is  paying  good  dividends.  Dr.  Dickey  has  been  a  member  of  every 
farmers'  organization  that  had  for  its  purpose  the  upbuilding  of  the 
farmer,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Union  he  is  a  hard  worker.  He  is 
one  of  the  kind  that  always  sticks.  He  never  deserted  any  reform 
organization  that  he  ever  joined.  He  is  yet  a  member  of  the 
Farmers'  Alliance,  and  still  votes  the  third  party  ticket. 

Davis,  G.  M.,  Union  City,  Ga. — Ex-State  Lecturer  of  the 
Georgia  Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union ;  was  born  on  a 
farm  in  Greenville  County,  South  Carolina,  August  31,  1868, 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  county. 
He  attended  the  Cokesbury  Preparatory  School,  and  later 
entered  Wofford  College.  After  leaving  college,  he  taught 
and  farmed  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Grange  and  Alliance.  Coming  finally  to  Georgia,  he  joined 
the  Farmers'  Union  as  a  charter  member  of  his  local,  and  was 
elected  President  at  the  time  of  its  organization.  He  was  elected 
State  Lecturer  in  1906,  and  again  in  1907,  resigning  in  October, 
1907,  to  accept  another  position.  He  has  been  active  in  organizing 
the  Union  in  Georgia. 

Drake,  Jesse  A.,  State  Counsel,  Union  City,  Ga. — Was  born  on 
a  farm  in  DeKalb  County,  Tennessee,  January  10,  1870;  was  edu- 
cated at  Pure  Fountain  College,  Smithville,  Tenn. ;  received  his 
law  training  at  Cumberland  University,  Lebanon,  Tenn.,  from 
which  school  he  graduated  in  1897.  Beginning  the  practice  of  law, 
he  soon  built  up  a  lucrative  business,  and  when  the  Farmers'  Union 
was  looking  about  for  a  man  to  act  as  State  Counsel  for  Georgia, 
he  was  selected  as  one  properly  qualified  to  fill  the  responsible 
position.  On  March  i,  1908,'  he  became  connected  with  the  Union 
work  as  State  Counsel,  which  position  he  now  holds.  While  he  is 
not  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  his  work  and  his  sympathy 
are  for  the  cause. 

Devitt,  J.  S.,  Rockmart,  Ga. — Is  Vice-President  of  the  L'''nion 
Cotton  Company,  and  a  wealthy  farmer;  was  raised  in  Polk 
Countv ;  ioined  the  Farmers'  Union  under  peculiar  circumstances. 


3U0  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

The  County  Commissioners  of  his  county  had  closed  the  court- 
house doors  against  the  Farmers'  Union.  This  act  brought  J.  S. 
Devdtt's  attention  to  the  Farmers'  Union.  He  at  once  set  out  to 
search  for  the  Union,  and  became  a  member,  and  has  been  a  per- 
sistent worker. 

DosTER,  ^Iiss  JiMMiE,  Union  City,  Ga. — Has  been  connected 
with  State  Headquarters  ahnost  from  the  beginning  as  clerk 
to  the  State  President,  and  later  to  the  National  President;  for  a 
year  was  connected  with  the  editorial  department  of  the  Union 
Nezvs;  Delegate  to  the  National  Convention  at  Fort  Worth,  1908. 
She  is  well  informed  as  to  the  workings  of  Union  matters  in  the 
State  of  Georgia. 

Dean^  J.  S.,  Buchanan,  Ga. — Manager  Union  Produce  Com- 
pany; joined  the  Union  upon  its  advent  in  Haralson  County;  was 
elected  Business  Agent  of  County  Union ;  has  attended  the  rallies 
in  Atlanta  and  Memphis ;  was  elected  Manager  of  the  Union 
Produce  Company  in  1908,  and  continued  in  charge  until  January 
I,  1909.    Dean  makes  a  good  Union  man. 

Davis,  John  M.,  Buford,  Ga. — Was  formerly  County  President 
of  Gwinnett  County.  When  he  was  elected,  there  were  ten  local 
Unions,  with  200  members.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  term,  two 
years  later,  there  were  forty  locals,  with  a  membership  of  about 
1,000.    He  has  devoted  considerable  time  to  the  Union  cause. 

Day,  M.  L.,  Nashville,  Ga. — A  prominent  leader  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  in  his  county.  He  has  served  his  county  and  local  Union 
faithfully;  w^as  a  delegate  to  the  State  meeting,  1908,  where  he 
was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  National  Meeting  at  Fort  Worth. 

Dasher,  A.  R.,  Camilla,  Ga. — Member  State  Agricultural  Com- 
mittee ;  a  deep  thinker,  logical  reasoner,  and  a  quiet  worker.  A 
Union  man  who  believes  in  deeds,  and  does  them. 

Durham,  C.  F.,  Spring  Place,  Ga. — Pleasing  personality,  genial, 
sunny  disposition.  A  firm  believer  in  the  organization,  and  is 
always  to  be  found  in  his  place  at  the  proper  time. 

Duke,  B.  T.,  Organizer,  Buena  Vista,  Ga. — Has  been  identified 
with  the  Union  since  it  was  planted  in  Georgia ;  has  traveled  over 
three  counties,  making  speeches  and  organizing  locals  ;  is  still  doing 
all  he  can  to  advance  the  cause. 

Daw.son,  Miss  Mary,  Atlanta,  Ga. — Stenographer  to  National 
President.    An  honest  and  hard  worker. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UXION.  301 

Dayton^  H.  L.,  Crest,  Ga. — Secretary  of  his  County  Union,  and 
a  most  excellent  one. 

EuBA.XKS,  J.  G.,  State  Business  Agent,  Union  City,  Ga. — Among 
the  many  State  Business  Agents,  J.  G.  Eubanks  ranks  first.  He  is 
practically  the  only  one  who  has  made  a  success  of  the  business 
department  of  a  State  L^nion.  J.  G.  Eubanks  was  born  in  Cobb 
County,  Georgia,  May  7,  185S.  At  the  time  of  Sherman's  invasion 
the  Eubanks  family  was  in  the  line  of  march  of  both  armies. 
Ever\thing  they  had  was  destroyed,  and  they  were  reduced  to 
want.  Young  Eubanks  had  very  little  educational  advantages, 
but  such  as  he  had  he  used  to  good  purpose.  While  a  young  man, 
he  secured  a  business  education,  and  in  1880  moved  to  Polk  County, 
where  he  was  manager  of  a  lumber  plant.  In  190 1  he  gave  up  his 
position  with  the  lumber  people  and  moved  to  his  farm  near  Fish. 
Here  he  joined  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  became  a  very  active 
member  in  the  work.  When  it  was  decided  to  establish  the  busi- 
ness department  of  the  Georgia  Division,  no  one  could  be  found 
who  was  as  well  qualified  as  he  to  take  charge  of  the  business.  In 
January,  1906,  he  was  put  in  charge  as  Business  Agent  by  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee,  and  has  remained  in  that  position  ever  since. 
He  was  once  elected  as  the  head  of  the  National  Business  Depart- 
ment, but  on  account  of  the  pressing  business  in  his  State,  Georgia, 
he  was  compelled  to  decline  the  offer  of  this  position.  The  Busi- 
ness Department  in  Georgia  is  the  most  successful  one  in  the  Union 
jurisdiction,  and  the  credit  for  it  belongs  to  Eubanks.  He  is  an 
indefatigable  worker,  and  takes  pride  in  the  fact  that  the  system 
of  his  office  is  superb  in  its  arrangement,  and  every  clerk  knows  his 
place.  His  system  approaches  close  to  perfection,  which  proves 
that  he  is  possessed  of  sound  business  judgment.  He  is  President 
of  the  Union  Phosphate  Company. 

English,  J.  L.,  Leading  Organizer,  Abbeville,  Ga. — Has  organ- 
ized more  local  Unions  than  any  other  Organizer  in  the  State.  The 
number  organized  is  300,  number  of  speeches  made  is  500,  and 
the  nuniber  of  miles  traveled  is  12,500.  This  is  the  record  of  a 
sixty-year-old  Organizer  in  Georgia. 

Evans,  R.  E.  L.,  Thomson,  Ga.- — Is  Secretary  and  Manager  of 
the  Farmers'  Union  Warehouse  Company  of  Thomson,  and  has 
been  very  successful  in  his  management.  Is  Business  Agent  for 
the  Union  in  !\TcDuffie  County.  Is  a  successful  farmer  and  peach 
grower. 

Em  MITT,  G.  F..  Statesboro,  Ga. — Member  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Committee  from  Bulloch  County ;  has  done  great  work  in  his 


302  MISSION*,    HISTORY   AND  TIMES 

community  in  a  quiet  way,  making  better  farmers  out  of  the 
Union  men  in  his  section ;  taking  advantage  of  the  educational 
feature  of  the  organization  to  push  his  ideas  of  reform. 

EuBANKS,  George,  Union  City,  Ga. — Order  clerk  in  the  State 
Business  Department ;  a  bright  young  man  who  is  doing  good 
work. 

ExLEY,  A.  L.,  Clyo,  Ga. — Local  Business  Agent :  has  labored  for 
the  cause  in  his  community  against  many  disadvantages,  but  won 
the  victory. 

FuLw^ooD,  John  I.,  Cedartown,  Ga. — Has  made  a  hundred  or 
more  speeches,  and  traveled  five  thousand  miles  in  the  interest  of 
the  cotton  certificate  plan,  of  which  he  is  the  promoter ;  has  visited 
^lemphis.  Fort  \\'orth,  Xew  Orleans,  and  Washington  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  cotton  certificate,  and  has  been  able  to  get  them  into 
circulation  in  a  number  of  counties. 

FuNDERBURG,  D.  J..  Suwanec,  Ga. — Local  Business  Agent,  and 
has  served  as  such  since  the  organization  of  his  county ;  was  one 
of  the  first  to  join  the  organization  when  his  county  was  organized ; 
is  an  enthusiastic  worker  for  the  cause. 

Fambrough,  W.  B.,  Hoschton,  Ga. — Has  been  County  Organ- 
izer since  September,  1908,  and  has  added  to  the  membership  of 
the  countv  about  100  members ;  has  done  all  in  his  power  to  ad- 
vance the  L'nion  cause. 

Fort,  T.  E.,  Blakelv,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  early  in  1908;  was 
elected  President  of  Early  County  Union  when  it  was  organized. 
He  is  one  of  the  strong,  aggressive  Union  men  in  his  section  of  the 
State. 

FuLGiiUM,  J.  F.,  Alitchell,  Ga. — Local  Business  Agent;  one  of 
the  first  members  of  the  organization  in  his  county ;  believes  in  co- 
operation, and  is  a  strong  worker  for  the  cause. 

Gray,  Dr.  R.  M.,  Everett  Springs,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  upon 
its  introduction  into  Gordon  County ;  has  visited  most  of  the  State 
and  his  district  Unions  ;  has  been  officially  connected  with  the  Gor- 
don Countv  Warehouse  since  its  organization  ;  served  first  as  secre- 
tarv  of  the  warehouse,  and  later  as  president  of  the  company.  The 
warehouse  has  been  very  successfully  managed  and  is  doing  well. 
PTe  is  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Everett  Springs  Sem- 
inary. 

Guei.att,  C.  H.,  l^nion  City,  Ga. — Has  been  .\ssistant  Editor  of 
the  Agricultural  Department  of  the  Union  Nczvs  and  Manager  of 


.  OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  303 

the  Union  Supply  Company;  is  Manager  of  the  Union  Cotton 
Grading  School  at  Union  City,  Georgia,  and  owner  of  McArthur's 
Cotton  Grading  Manual,  a  book  on  cotton  grading ;  is  President  of 
his  local  Union.  Gullatt  is  a  hustling,  prosperous  young  farmer. 
His  cotton  grading  school  is  a  good  one. 

Glaze,    H.   W.,    Flowery    Branch,    Ga. — Is    County    Business- 
Agent ;  has  served  as  local  Business  Agent  ever  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  his  county;  is  one  of  the  best  County  Business  Agents  to 
be  found  in  the  State ;    has  served  as  County  President,  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  several  State  meetings. 

Gi-EATON,  B.  S.,  Warwick,  Ga. — Local  Business  Agent  and 
leader  in  his  section  ;  believes  in  doing  business  co-operatively;  a 
strong  worker  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause. 

GowAN,  C..L.,  W'aleska,  Ga. — Ex-.State  Organizer  and  one  of 
the  first  Local  Organizers  in  the  State :  was  a  fine  organizer. 

Geiger,  James  T.,  Glenwood,  Ga. — Has  been  Secretary-Treas- 
urer of  his  County  I'nion  ;  was  Business  Agent  for  County  Union  ; 
has  helped  to  organize  three  warehouses,  and  is  manager  of  the 
warehouse  at  Glenwood ;  has  made  a  study  of  co-operation  ques- 
tions, and  is  fully  alive  to  their  importance. 

Gray,  Oscar,  Brooks,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  in  Fayette  County, 
1905 ;  has  kept  faithfully  at  it  ever  since.  He  organized  and 
worked  hard,  and  by  his  persistency  has  kept  his  local  alive.  He 
has  done  much  for  the  cause. 

GiLi'iN,  W.  E.,  I^nion  City,  Ga. — Has  been  with  the  U)iion 
Nezi's  almost  from  its  start ;  was  Business  Manager  and  Manager 
of  the  L^nion  Supply  Company.  Now  ^Manager  of  the  circulation 
department. 

GoDDARD,  J.  D.,  Marietta,  Ga. — County  Business  Agent,  Cobb 
County.  Is  a  hard  worker  and  a  leading  member  in  his  county. 
Has  acted  as  Doorkeeper,  Conductor,  and  Business  Agent. 

Hawkins,  Thomas  Lee,  State  Organizer,  Union  City,  Ga. — 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  elected  State  Organizer  for  Georgia 
by  the  Executive  Committe  at  its  meeting  in  November,  1908,  as 
a  successor  to  J.  L.  Lee,  who  was  elected  State  President.  T.  L, 
Hawkins  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Washington  County,  Georgia, 
September  24,  1878.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
county.  After  leaving  school,  he  taught  during  the  winter  and 
devoted  the  summer  months  to  farming.     He  joined  the  L'^nion  in 


304 


MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


STATK  OFFK   lAl.S.    M.I.IMMS   AM)   1  M  M  A  .\  A    I)|\1SI(».\S. 

1.  A.  II.  Evans,  Illinois,  State  President. 

2.  .luK  IluuKiOTT,  Illinois,  State  Uusiness  Agent. 
'.',.  K.  ]',.  IIiNTKit,  Illinois,  Sceretur.v-Treasurer. 
4.  W.   A.    li.MN.   IliinDJs.    Vice-I'n'sldont. 

r>.   Joii.v  K.  W?:i.\.MKisTi;i{,  Indhmn,  State  Organizer. 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  305 

1906,  and  soon  afterwards  went  out  as  a  Local  Organizer,  which 
place  he  was  filling  at  the  time  of  his  election  as  State  Organizer. 
He  has  visited  more  than  half  of  the  counties  in  the  State,  and 
knows  the  people  of  Georgia  well.  Hawkins  works  persistently, 
and  his  work  tells  wherever  he  goes.  He  has  at  all  times  been  an 
ardent  supporter  of  all  reform  moven:ents,  and  as  such  is  well  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  State.  He  makes  hosts  of  friends 
wherever  he  goes.  His  organizing  work  was  so  thorough  that  the 
attention  of  the  Executive  Committee  was  directed  to  him  to  fill 
the  place  of  State  Organizer  made  vacant  by  the  election  of  J.  L. 
Lee  State  President. 

Hudson,  Thomas  G.,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  tor  Georgia, 
Atlanta,  Ga. — ^^'as  born  on  a  farm  in  Schley  County ;  attended 
the  common  schools  and  the  college  at  Dawson.  After  leaving 
school,  engaged  in  farming;  has  served  two  terms  in  the  State 
Legislature,  and  two  terms  as  State  Senator ;  has  been  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture  for  several  years.  He  has  visited  many  of 
the  rallies  held  in  the  State  and  made  speeches  in  behalf  of  the 
farmers  and  the  Union.  He  has  never  failed  to  respond  to  a  call 
of  the  L^nion. 

HoGtTE,  WiLLiAAf  Thomas,  Draketown,  Ga. — Was  born  in  Cobb 
County,  Georgia,  May  lo,  1853.  His  parents  moved  to  Paulding 
County  when  young  Llogue  was  two  years  old,  where  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since.  His  education  is  somewhat  limited  owing  to  the 
fact  that  he  grew  up  during  the  war,  when  there  were  not  many 
schools,  but  by  diligence  and  application  he  fitted  himself  for  the 
duties  of  life ;  has  been  a  member  of  the  Alliance ;  later  joined  the 
Farmers'  ITnion,  of  which  he  is  an  enthusiastic  member ;  was  a 
delegate  to  the  first  State  meeting  held  at  Thomaston,  where  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  and  has 
been  re-elected  at  6 very  meeting  since.  He  is  fully  imbued  with 
Union  ideas  and  Union  principles. 

HuNNicuTT,  G.  F.,  Director  Carmical  Implement  Company,  At- 
lanta, Ga. — Has  attended  many  rallies,  where  he  made  speeches ; 
has  traveled  some  three  thousand  miles,  and  made  more  than  a 
hundred  speeches,  some  of  them  in  South  Carolina ;  is  a  director  of 
the  Carmical  Lnplement  Company  and  assisted  in  its  organization. 
He  has  never  held  any  official  position  in  the  Union,  but  has  given 
counsel  as  a  layman.  He  is  editor  of  the  Southern  Cultivator,  a 
first-class  farm  paper,  published  in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  through 
its  columns  he  is  doing  much  to  encourage  farmers  to  diversify 
their  crops  and  build  up  the  waste  places  of  the  State. 

20 


306  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

HoYLE^  J.  H.,  Crest,  Ga. — Chairman  State  Executive  Commit- 
tee. He  joined  the  Union  at  the  first  opportunity,  and  went  im- 
mediately to  work  in  an  enthusiastic  manner.  Was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Executive  Committee  when  the  State  Union  was 
organized ;  helped  R.  F.  Duckworth  and  C.  S.  Barrett  to  borrow 
the  money  to  start  the  Union.  He  lives  within  five  miles  of  where 
he  was  born,  and  is  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  State.  His 
barn  is  bigger,  better  and  more  convenient  than  most  people's 
dwelling  house. 

Hart,  J.  M.,  President  Fifth  District  Union.  College  Park,  Ga. — 
Has  traveled  about  3,500  miles  making  speeches  and  organizing 
local  Unions ;  President  Flat  Rock  local  for  three  years ;  President 
Clayton  County  Union  three  years ;  President  Fifth  Congressional 
District  Union  two  years ;  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Carmical  Implement  Company  for  two  years  ;  has  been  National 
Delegate  to  meetings  held  in  Atlanta,  Little  Rock,  Memphis,  and 
New  Orleans,  and  has  been  a  faithful  worker  for  the  Union. 

Harris,  J.  I.,  Stilesboro,  Ga. — Became  a  member  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  in  October,  1905  ;  in  December  following  was  elected 
President  of  Davis  Local ;  served  that  local  as  President  until  Jan- 
uary, 1909 ;  February,  1906,  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of 
Polk  County,  and  served  two'  years  in  that  capacity ;  has  attended 
several  State  meetings  and  served  on  important  committees. 

Hendricks,  T.  R..  Macon,  Ga. — President  and  General  Mana- 
ger Union  Cotton  Company ;  has  helped  to  organize  local  and 
County  Unions ;  President  Union  Warehouse  Company,  Hawkins- 
ville,  1908.  Warehouse  was  successful ;  has  served  on  many  im- 
portant commitees  at  State  meetings. 

Head,  J,  H.,  Fairburn,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  in  November, 
1905,  and  immediately  set  to  work  to  help  organize  his  county. 
He  is  still  doing  all  he  can  for  the  cause. 

Hardy,  W.  B.  H.,  Thunder,  Ga. — President  of  County  Union, 
and  loyal  to  every  cause  he  ever  espoused. 

Harris,  G.  L.,  Palmetto,  Ga. — Organized  in  many  counties ;  has 
traveled  for  some  time ;  is  now  with  the  domonstration  work. 

Hatfield,  J.  L,  Douglas,  Ga. — Member  of  the  Legislature,  and 
has  worked  for  the  Union  in  his  section. 

Hendricks,  J.  Walter,  Statesboro,  Ga. — Principal  of  the  First 
District  Agricultural  School ;  has  attended  several  conventions  and 
given  some  very  valuable  advice.    I  believe  he  is  all  right. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  307 

Jarman,  L.  W.,  Porterdale,  Ga. — A  member  of  the  State  Agri- 
cultural Committee,  which  he  helped  to  organize ;  has  been  delegate 
to  State  conventions  and  National  mass  meetings ;  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing and  financing  the  Warehouse  Company  in  his  county. 
A  fine  farmer. 

Johnson,  M.  L.,  Cassville,  Ga. — Delegate  to  State  Convention 
held  in  Macon;  delegate  to  New  Orleans  1908;  delegate  to  At- 
lanta, 1909.  He  was  formerly  President  of  the  Georgia  Division 
of  the  Southern  Cotton  Association.  At  the  present  time  he  is 
doing  good  work  in  the  Farmers'  Union. 

Jones,  A.  P.,  Rome,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union,  1907;  has  been 
actively  at  work  in  his  county  ever  since ;  is  Secretary  of  his  local 
Union ;  Secretary  of  the  County  Union,  and  Secretary  of  the 
Seventh  Congressional  District  Union. 

Jeans,  C.  J.,  Union  City,  Ga.— General  Manager  Carmical  Im- 
plement Company,  a  Union  enterprise,  and  one  of  the  hard  workers 
for  the  cause ;  instrumental  in  building  the  warehouse  at  Union 
City. 

Kelly,  W.  M.,  Tennille,  Ga. — Has  served  Washington  County 
as  Business  Agent.  He  is  a  persistent  worker  in  the  business  de- 
partment of  the  organization ;  has  saved  his  people  thousands  of 
dollars. 

Kemf,  W.  R.,  Swainsboro,  Ga. — Director  of  the  State  Farmers' 
Fair  and  ex-Member  of  the  Legislature.  At  present  time  member 
of  Georgia  State  Senate. 

Keener,  W.  A.,  Wolfifork,  Ga. — Has  been  a  good  worker  for 
the  Union  cause,  but  in  a  very  quiet  way. 

Ladson,  C.  T.,  General  Counsel  Farmers'  Union. — The  subject 
of  this  sketch,  C.  T.  Ladson,  General  Counsel  for  the  Farmers' 
Union,  was  born  near  Savannah,  Ga.,  February  28,  1862.  He  is 
of  English  descent.  His  ancestors  emigrated  to  South  Carolina  in 
the  year  1667,  coming  from  the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  where  they 
had  previously  settled,  being  among  the  first  settlers  of  Charleston. 
His  family  was  impoverished  by  the  Civil  War,  and,  orphaned  at 
an  early  age,  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  while  yet  a 
boy.  He  spent  his  boyhood  upon  the  farm,  and  by  hard  work  saved 
enough  money  to  secure  an  education.  He  was  admitted  to  practice 
law  at  the  South  Carolina  bar  in  1881.  In  1885  he  moved  with 
his  wife  and  baby  to  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
At  this  timrj  he  was  without  any  means,  and  was  solely  dependent 


308  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

upon  the  meager  practice  of  a  young  and  unknown  lawyer  for  sup- 
port. Here  he  toiled  incessantly,  and  in  the  course  of  a  short  while 
found  himself  established  upon  a  firm  footing,  and  he  is  today  one 
of  the  ablest  and  best-known  lawyers  of  the  Georgia  bar.  He  is 
still  in  the  prime  of  life  and  a  career  of  further  great  honor  and 
usefulness  is  still  before  him.  The  name  of  C.  T.  Ladson  will  be 
endeared  to  the  people  of  Georgia  for  the  prominent  part  which 
he  took  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  Child  Labor  Bill.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  labored  without  fee  or  reward  to  secure  the  passage 
of  the  bill.  He  also  rendered  substantial  aid  in  the  passage  of 
similar  laws  in  South  Carolina.  The  reason  given  by  Mr.  Ladson 
for  the  devotion  of  so  much  time  to  procure  this  legislation  is : 
"My  early  struggles  made  me  acquainted  with  the  'simple  annals 
of  the  poor,'  and  a  fellow  feeling  makes  us  wondrous  kind."  For 
fifteen  years  he  has  been  the  representative  of  all  labor  organiza- 
tions in  the  State  of  Georgia.  Since  his  detention  as  General  Coun- 
sel of  the  National  Farmers'  Union,  he  has  rendered  valuable  serv- 
ice to  the  organization. 

Leigh^  S.  E.,  Grantville,  Ga. — Prominent  L"^nion  member ;  has 
traveled  about  2,000  miles  and  made  twenty-five  regular  speeches 
at  rallies  in  dififerent  parts  of  the  State.  He  is  one  of  the  finest 
speakers  in  the  State,  and  was  formerly  member  of  the  Georgia 
Legislature,  where  he  won  distinction  as  a  speaker. 

Lindsay,  Paul  L.,  Tucker,  Ga. — National  President  Rural  Let- 
ter Carriers'  Association ;  has  helped  to  make  the  Union  a  success 
in  his  countv ;  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  State  Union ;  was 
elected  delegate  to  first  Texarkana  meeting,  but  did  not  attend ; 
has  been  a  member  of  several  prominent  committees  at  State 
Unions.    A  hustling  young  man. 

LuNSDEN,  T.  S.,  Carrollton,  Ga. — One  of  the  first  to  join  the 
organization  in  his  county ;  a  strong  believer  in  education,  and  has 
been  one  of  the  principal  factors  in  building  up  the  best  rural  school 
to  be  found  in  the  county. 

LiNEBURGER.  T.  L.,  Chula,  Ga. — Local  Business  Agent;  has 
been  Business  Agent  ever  since  the  organization  of  his  local  Union  ; 
has  been  co-operating  continuously  with  State  Business  Depart- 
ment. 

Ledford,  F.  L.,  Pitts,  Ga. — Organized  forty  locals ;  visited  from 
house  to  house  in  his  organizing  work. 

Lee,  John  L.,  State  President,  Union  City,  Ga. — No  phrase  is 
more  often  improperly  applied  to  a  man  than  "self-made,"  but  it 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  309 

could  lind  nowhere  a  iiiurc  fitting  application  than  in  the  person  of 
the  present  President  of  the  Georgia  Division  of  the  Farmers' 
Union.  Born  a  farmer,  he  remains  a  farmer  to  this  day,  iand  a 
successful,  energetic,  progressive  farmer,  too.  He  has  known 
poverty,  and  battled  bravely  to  overcome  it ;  he  has  met  adversity, 
and  fought  it  bravely;  he  has  known  lowly  toil,  and  met  it  like 
a  strong  man.  He  has  wrung  success  from  the  difficulties  that 
would  have  conquered  a  weaker  man.  Hon.  John  L.  Lee,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Georgia  Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  was  born  in 
Horry  County,  South  Carolina,  July  4,  1870.  His  birthplace  was 
about  one-half  mile  from  the  North  Carolina  line,  near  Chadburn. 
He  is  in  the  line  of  descent  from  the  family  of  the  Virginia  Lees. 
When  three  weeks  old,  his  mother  died,  and  at  the  age  of  eleven, 
his  father.  ihitil  the  age  of  eleven,  he  attended  the  common 
schools  of  North  Carolina.  During  1888  and  1889,  he  attended 
night  school.  John  L.  Lee  has  always  been  a  laborer  or  a  farmer, 
and  as  such  has  spent  his  life  among  the  country  people,  devoting 
his  best  energies  to  their  interest.  The  father  of  John  L,  Lee  was 
a  Mason,  a  deacon  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  one  of  the  great 
Sunday  school  workers  of  the  seventies.  The  mother  of  John  L. 
Lee  was  Miss  Annie  ]\fcTntyre.  At  eleven  years  of  age,  John 
L.  Lee  moved  from  North  Carolina  to  the  State  of  Georgia,  where 
he  engaged  in  farm  w-ork  as  a  day  laborer.  Here  he  grew  up,  be- 
coming identified  with  the  farmer.  He  finally  settled  in  DeKalb 
County,  and  when  the  Farmers'  Union  was  organized  in  that  sec- 
tion, he  joined.  He  was  elected  State  Organizer  of  the  Farmers' 
L^nion  at  the  meeting  in  Atlanta,  in  1905,  which  position  he  filled 
with  credit  to  himself  and  benefit  to  the  Union  until  October,  1908, 
when  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Georgia  Division.  John  L. 
Lee  belongs  to  the  following  secret  orders  :  Masons,  Odd  Fellows, 
Woodmen  of  the  \\''orId,  and  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics. 
He  is  an  able  speaker,  and  his  services  are  in  constant  demand  by 
conventions  and  other  bodies  desiring  good  speakers.  He  has 
visited  every  county  in  the  State  in  the  interest  of  the  Union,  and 
has  worked  in  season  and  out  of  season  for  the  Union  cause. 

Lee,  B.  F.,  Thomaston.  Ga. — Has  been  a  member  of  the  Grange 
and  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  and  joined  the  I'nion  a  few  months  be- 
fore the  organization  of  the  State  Union.  He  was  selected  to  do 
the  clerical  work  in  the  office  of  C.  S.  Barrett,  then  State  Business 
Agent.  After  the  organization  of  the  State  L^nion,  he  was  sent 
out  as  an  Organizer  and  Lecturer,  in  which  connection  he  traveled 
through  many  counties,  encouraging  the  boys  and  organizing  the 
local  Unions.    B.  F.  Lee  is  not  a  backslider :  he  alwavs  sticks,  and 


310  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

does  not  have  much  patience  with  a  fellow  who  backslides  or  fails 
to  stick.     He  will  do  to  risk. 

AIcDanieL;  John  T.,  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Georgia,  Union 
City,  Ga. — Was  born  on  a  farm  in  Rockdale  County,  Georgia.  He 
attended  the  country  schools  for  five  months  in  the  year  and  worked 
on  a  farm  the  balance  of  the  time ;  attended  high  school  at  Conyers  ; 
joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance  in  1889;  went  West  in  1893,  and  en- 
gaged in  live  stock  commission  business  ;  entered  Euharlee  College 
in  1896,  and  graduated  from  there  in  1897;  joined  the  Farmers' 
Union  in  1905,  and  became  an  Organizer  in  November  of  the  same 
year.  He  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  State  of  Georgia, 
November  24,  1907,  and  re-elected  July,  1908.  He  has  kept  his 
books  in  a  very  business-like  manner,  and  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee has  always  found  them  correct  and  neatly  kept. 

McDaniel,  W.  F.,  Conyers,  Ga. — President  of  Rockdale  County 
Union.  Has  traveled  several  thousand  miles,  visiting  local  Unions 
and  making  speeches ;  was  elected  President  of  his  loc^l  Union 
when  organized,  and  first  President  of  Rockdale  Coun^}  Univ^n, 
which  position  he  still  holds ;  had  visited  every  State  Union,  exce^  t 
one,  since  joining.  He  is  the  father  of  J.  T.  McDaniel,  the  present 
State  Secretary-Treasurer.  He  has  gone  throughout  his  county, 
and  has  always  borne  his  own  expenses. 

]\IcLiNDON_,  T.  S.,  Carrollton,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  ai  first 
opportunity ;  was  elected  Vice-President  of  Carroll  County  Union 
at  time  of  organization ;  was  elected  manager  of  the  warehouse, 
September,  1906 ;  refused  re-election,  September,  1908,  and  was 
elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  County  Union  December,  1908. 

Moore,  W.  L.,  Union  City,  Ga. — Chief  Clerk  in  State  Business 
Agent's  Department,  and  private  secretary  to  J.  G.  Eubanks.  Is  a 
fine  business  man.  He  entered  the  work  of  organizing  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  in  the  early  days  of  the  organization.  This  brought  him 
in  contact  with  the  people,  and  with  his  acquired  knowledge  of 
business,  qualified  him  for  the  Secretary-Treasurer's  Department, 
which  he  entered  as  chief  clerk  to  J.  L.  Barron,  three  years  ago. 
On  account  of  efficiency  in  business,  was  later  given  the  position  of 
Chief  Clerk  at  the  State  Business  Department.  Moore  is  a  hard 
worker,  and  is  one  of  the  many  men  who  have  burnt  midnight  oil 
in  order  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  membership.  He  furnishes 
his  full  share  of  energy  and  brains  which  keeps  the  Business  De- 
partment of  Georgia  intact. 

MooRE,  L.  M.,  Waleska.  Ga. — Has  traveled  several  hundred 
miles  and  made  a  number  of  speeches  ;  his  work  has  been  confined 


OP    THE    farmers'    UNION.  311 

largely  to  Cherokee  County ;  was  one  of  the  Managers  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  at  the  State  Fair. 

Meece,  a.  J.,  Tiger,  Ga. — Is  Local  Business  Agent  and  one  of 
the  most  prominent  Business  Agents  to  be  found  in  Northeast 
Georgia. 

IMabry,  J.  M.  C,  Gainesville,  Ga. — Organizer,  County  Presi- 
dent, and  Vice-President  of  his  District  Union  ;  is  one  of  the  most 
enthusiastic  workers  in  his  section  ;  organized  his  own  county,  and 
has  been  continuously  organizing  in  other  counties. 

Mayfield,  I.  W.,  Monroe,  Ga. — Has  been  President  of  his 
County  Union  for  two  years ;  organized  a  number  of  local  Unions ; 
made  many  speeches  and  traveled  several  hundred  miles  in  the 
interest  of  the  Union.  He  has  taken  a  prominent  part  and  been 
a  leader  in  the  building  of  a  warehouse  in  his  town.  Attended 
National  Convention  at  New  Orleans  in  1908. 

Martin,  W.  V.,  Tifton,  Ga. — Member  of  the  State  Executive 
Committee.  Joined  the  Union  in  1905 ;  heard  of  the  organization 
and  traveled  quite  a  distance  to  find  out  about  it.  i\fter  joining, 
he  went  to  work  at  once  to  push  the  work  in  his  county.  He  is  a 
man  of'  fine  business  qualities,  and  has  been  three  times  unani- 
mously elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee. 

McMahan,  a.  L.,  Double  Branches,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  in 
1907  in  Hart  County,  where  he  did  good  work  for  the  Union 
cause.  He  is  getting  the  people  interested  in  Union  affairs  in 
Lincoln  County,  where  he  now  resides.  Was  made  President  of 
his  Local  when  organized.     Was  later  made  Business  Agent. 

]\Tatthews,  W.  B.,  Cordele,  Ga. — Manager  of  the  Warehouse 
at   Cordele ;    also   represented   his   county  at   State   Convention. 
Through  his  efforts,  a  warehouse  was  organized  in  his  county  and . 
he  has  been  manager  ever  since  its  organization. 

McCoRMiCK,  J.  C,  Pinehurst,  Ga. — Member  Local  No.  560; 
delegate  to  Memphis  Convention,  1908 :  President  second  and 
third  district  Unions,  1908  ;  Lecturer  and  Organizer  of  his  county; 
also  President  of  his  Local  Union. 

McKiNNON,  C.  B.,  Bluffton,  Ga. — Joined  as  a  charter  member 
of  Oakland  Local ;  was  appointed  County  Organizer  soon  after ; 
has  made  sacrifices  for  the  Union,  and  is  still  working  away. 

McGahee,  W.  M.,  Thomason,  Ga. — Director  of  Carmical  Im- 
plement Company.     Was  a  member  of  the  Alliance. 


312 


MISSION.   HISTORY   AND  TIMES 


STATK  KXr.CUTIVE  COMMITTEE.  ILLINOIS  DIVISION. 

].  a.  r?.  Sanokils.  2.  J.  M.  Walkku.  3.  W.  D.  Green. 

4.  .ToiiN  T.  UiGGs  5.  John  F.  Hendkhson. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  313 

MiLNER,  Bob,  Cuncord,  Ga. — Has  done  a  lot  of  individual  \v(jrk. 
and  by  his  infiuence  has  helped  greatly  in  building  up  the  Union  in 
his  section  of  the  State ;  has  stuck  to  every  farmers'  organization 
that  he  ever  joined,  and  has  always  been  loyal. 

Mills,  J.  H.,  Jcnkinsl)urg,  Ga. — Was  elected  Gounty  Lecturer 
of  his  county ;  has  traveled  about  three  hundred  miles ;  made 
twenty  speeches,  and  talks  in  defense  of  the  cause  everywhere  he 
goes. 

Martin^  L.  H.  O.,  Elberton,  Ga. — Superintendent  of  the 
Georgia  Farmers'  Union  Fair;  served  on  many  important  com- 
mittees, and  ex-member  of  the  Georgia  Legislature. 

MiTCHAM,  J.  L.,  Crest,  Ga. — Organizer.  Has  been  a  faithful 
worker ;   organized  Local  Unions  for  awhile. 

Nesbitt,  R.  T.,  Marietta,  Ga. — Ex-State  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Grange  and  the  Alliance  ;  joined 
the  Union  in  Cobb  County,  where  he  was  elected  President  of  his 
Local  L^nion,  and  President  of  his  County  Union. 

Newcomer,  C.  A.,  Fitzgerald,  Ga. — Has  been  County  Organ- 
izer and  has  done  all  that  he  could  do  in  his  county  in  building  up 
the  Union  and  influencing  others.  Director  of  Union  Cotton 
Company  at  Macon. 

Nelms,  T.  J.,  Danielsville,  Ga. — President,  Organizer  and  Lec- 
turer of  his  county  ;  traveled  five  hundred  miles  ;  organized  twen- 
ty-five Local  Unions,  and  made  fifty  speeches. 

Overman,  J.  R.,  Douglas,  Ga. — Was  County  Lecturer  of  Cofifee 
County,  and  visited  many  Local  L'nions  in  his  and  adjoining 
counties ;  has  made  a  hundred  speeches  and  traveled  several  hun- 
dred miles  in  the  interest  of  the  L'nion. 

O'QuiNN,  A.  H.,  Jesup,  Ga. — Member  of  the  State  Agricultural 
Committee ;  Secretary  Wayne  County  Warehouse ;  a  prosperous 
farmer,  who  has  made  a  success. 

a  man  who  could  take  as  \^'ELL  as  give  orders. 

Ppiili.ips,  Gen.  William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Piuncombe  County,  North  Carolina,  July  8,  1824,  and  died  at 
Marietta,  Georgia,  Septemebr  25.  1908.  The  father  of  General 
Phillips  settled  in  Habersham  County,  Georgia,  when  William 
was  a  child,  and  among  the  hills  of  North  Georgia,  young  Phillips 


314:  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

grew  up  with  a  love  for  the  country  people.  Young  Phillips  grad- 
uated from  the  high  school  at  Clarksville  and  the  University  of 
Georgia ;  read  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Dougherty  in  Athens,  and 
was  there  admitted  to  the  bar ;  moved  to  Marietta,  1850,  and  began 
the  practice  of  law :  was  made  Brigadier-General  by  Governor 
Brown,  and  ranking  officer.  After  the  war,  he  devoted  his  energy 
to  building  up  the  agricultural  interest  of  the  South  and  to  securing 
prohibition  ;  was  president  of  the  Agricultural  Society  of  the  State 
and  President  of  Cobb  County  Sunday  School  Convention  in  the 
seventies,  and  was  chief  promoter  and  builder  of  the  M.,  K.  &  N, 
Railway.  After  building  the  railway,  he  went  back  to  farming, 
joined  the  Farmers'  Union  upon  the  advent  of  it  into  his  county, 
and  from  that  time  he  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  cause.  Here  was  a  man,  the  lesson  of  whose  life  should 
be  written  in  the  hearts  and  the  minds  of  every  member  of  this 
organization.  He  knew  how  to  command,  but  he  also  knew  how 
to  obey.  Qualified  mentally  and  morally  for  the  highest  offices  in 
public  and  private  life,  he  was  always  sufficiently  humble  to  take 
orders  when  taking  orders  meant  the  interest  of  the  organization 
with  which  he  happened  to  be  connected.  In  my  connection  with 
this  organization,  I  have  seen  many  men  with  less  ability  from  an 
intellectual  and  strategetical  standpoint,  with  less  knowledge  and 
less  capacity  to  command  than  General  Phillips,  hampering  the 
cause  and  working  their  own  undoing  because  of  a  petty  mania  to 
assert  what  they  called  their  "independence." 

It  is  rare  that  we  find  the  qualities  that  make  the  commander  and 
private  soldier  in  the  same  personality.  General  Phillips  was  one 
of  these  infrerjuent  kind.  His  memory  should  serve  as  a  perpetual 
guide-post. 

Peek^.W.  L.,  Conyers,  Ga. — Delegate  to  the  State  meetings, 
1907  and  1908,  where  he  was  on  several  important  committees; 
has  been  making  speeches  in  his  section  for  the  Union.  He  was 
the  last  President  of  the  vState  Farmers'  Alliance,  of  which  he  was 
a  leading  member,  having  been  President  of  the  Alliance  Ex- 
change. He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Legislature  several 
years  ago,  and  made  himself  felt  in  that  body.  He  is  an  extensive 
and  successful  farmer,  owning  and  operating  farms  in  both  Georgia 
and  /Mabama.  He  is-  a  regular  attendant  at  all  State  and  county 
meetings. 

Pennington,  J.  J.,  Thomson,  Ga. — McDuffy  County  President. 
One  of  the  few  men  who  carry  great  weight  by  his  past  and  pres- 
ent life  among  his  members.      Always  sacrificial  when  the  organ- 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  815 

ization  caii  be  benefited ;  a  fine  executive,  earnest  worker,  and  firm 
believer  in  relief  through  organized  effort. 

Passmore,  J.  L.,  Cataula,  Ga. — County  Business  Agent  in  his 
county  ever  since  organization  ;  when  organized,  was  one  of  the 
first  members  who  joined  the  Union  when  it  was  introduced  into 
the  State;  kept  his  Local  Union  alive  after  every  other  Local  in 
the  county  had  died;  reorganized  his  county;  is  a  recognized 
leader  in  the  county. 

Plunkett,  W.  O..  Screven,  Ga. — One  of  the  livest  business 
Agents  to  be  found  in  this  section;  believes  in  co-operation,  and 
always  to  be  found  laboring  for  the  Union  cause. 

PiTTMAN,  C.  O.,  Secretary  Union  Cotton  Company,  Macon,  Ga. 
— Was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Cedar  Creek  Local  when 
initiated ;  was  a  member  of  Board  of  Directors  of  Floyd  County 
Warehouse,  and  later  President  of  the  Board ;  Trade  Agent  of 
Floyd  County. 

Presley,  C.  G.,  Organizer,  Jasper,  Ga. — Has  organized  sixty- 
eight  Local  Unions,  some  of  them  being  in  Tennessee ;  traveled 
several  hundred  miles  and  made  a  number  of  speeches.  During 
the  Summer  Campaign  he  assisted  in  seventeen  county  rallies. 
Much  of  his  w-ork  has  been  done  in  North  Georgia  and  Middle 
Tennessee. 

Partin,  R.  M.,  Ringgold,  Ga. — Has  made  a  number  of  speeches  ; 
visited  several  counties  and  organized  Local  Unions.  Was  first 
Secretary-Treasurer  of  Floyd  County  Union,  and  has  been  a  faith- 
ful worker  all  the  time. 

Parham^  J.  W.,  Blairsville,  Ga. — Is  County  President;  a  con- 
tinuous worker ;  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles  of  the  organiza- 
tion ;  one  who  adds  prestige  with  those  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

Peoples,  H.  L..  Lawrenceville,  Ga. — Ex-President  of  County 
L^nion  and  ex-member  of  Legislature.  Peoples  is  an  old  Alliance 
worker. 

QuiMBY,  W.  P..  Cartersville,  Ga. — Formerly  Vice-President  of 
the  State  L'nion.  but  resigned  in  1908.  Has  been  regular  attend- 
ant of  all  State  meetings  and  held  positions  on  important  commit- 
tees.     Helped  to  originate  the  Union  Cotton  Company. 

Richardson,  O.  J..  Rutledge,  Ga. — One  of  the  first  to  enlist  in 
the  Farmers'  Union  of  his  coimtv.  and  has  ever  since  continued  to 


316  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

be  one  of  the  leading  Union  men  in  his  section.  He  is  a  regular 
attendant  at  the  business  and  State  meetings,  and  believes  in  push- 
ing the  organization  in  place  of  the  organization  pushing  him. 

Rogers,  John  N.,  Granite  Hill,  Ga. — Superintendent  Tenth 
District  Agricultural  School ;  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  Union  since  it  began  in  Georgia ,  has  spoken  publicly  and 
privately  in  its  interest  on  every  occasion  that  presented  itself;  is 
at  present  Superintendent  of  the  Tenth  District  Agricultural 
School  near  Sparta,  Ga.,  where  he  is  doing  good  work  for  the 
farmer  boys. 

Russell,  E.,  Jasper,  Ga. — One  of  the  leading  Business  Agents 
in  North  Georgia.  One  of  the  principal  factors  in  raising  enthu- 
siasm among  the  membership  in  his  section  of  the  State.  Through 
his  efforts  a  great  deal  of  business  has  passed  through  the  business 
department  of  his  section. 

Reynolds,  P.  F.,  Young  Cane,  Ga. — Has  done  organizing  work 
in  his  county ;  acted  as  County  Business  Agent ;  has  assisted  in 
organizing  a  warehouse,  and  has  done  other  work. 

Rhodes,  P.  M.,  Rockmart,  Ga. — Is  one  of  the  leading  figures  in 
the  Farmers'  Union  of  his  section ;  has  served  his  county  as  Pres- 
ident and  has  done  much  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  Union. 

Rogers,  AIilton,  Union  City,  Ga. — Has  been  connected  with 
State  Headquarters  for  quite  a  while;  is  now  "Secretary-Treasurer 
of  the  Carmical  Iniplement  Company. 

Smith,  I.  A.,  Tennille,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  four  years  ago 
and  has  been  active  in  his  county  every  since ;  has  attended  most 
of  the  State  Conventions;  has  held  some  very  important  ofificial 
positions  in  his  county.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  pro- 
gressive farmers  in  Washington  County,  and  has  been  a  promoter 
of  a  stock  company  organized  in  the  interest  of  the  Union.  He  is 
postmaster  at  Tennille. 

Stubcs,  Homer,  Byron,  Ga. — Has  been  one  of  the  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Union  in  his  county.  When  the  County  Union  ceased 
to  meet,  he  continued  as  President  of  his  Local  Union  to  hold  to- 
gether a  small  membership.  Through  his  persistency,  he  finally 
succeeded  in  reorganizing  the  county,  which  now  has  a  good 
County  I^nion. 

Smith,  R.  Frank,  County  Business  Agent  of  DeKalb  County, 
Decatur,  Ga. — Has  traveled  a  thousand  miles ;   delivered  a  number 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  317 

of  speeches ;  organized  several  Locals ;  filled  the  ofifice  of  County 
Secretary-Treasurer  and  County  Business  Agent  for  two  years; 
has  been  a  dele.gate  to  a  number  of  State  meetings,  and  is  always 
present  at  his  County  meeting.  He  works  in  season  and  out  of 
season  for  the  success  of  the  Union. 

Smith,  J.  Grady,  Prominent  Union  Member,  Thomaston,  Ga. — 
Has  been  a  persistent  worker  for  the  Union  Phosphate  Company, 
the  Implement  Company,  and  the  Union  News.  His  work  has 
been  done  in  a  quiet  way ;  charter  member  of  his  Local  Union ; 
has  never  missed  a  meeting  since  joining,  and  has  attended  every 
State  meeting. 

Smith,  C.  W.  H.,  Thomson,  Ga. — Speaker  and  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  ;  has  organized  about  thirty-five  Local  Unions, 
and  three  County  Unions ;  has  made  several  hundred  speeches ; 
has  traveled  more  than  ten  thousand  miles  by  rail,  and  nine  hun- 
dred by  private  conveyance ;  was  one  of  the  speakers  placed  in 
charge  of  a  section  by  the  officials  in  a  recent  canvass  of  the  State. 
Smith  is  an  honest  worker. 

Smith,  J.  T.,  Swainsboro,  Ga. — Has  been  a  good  worker  for  the 
cause  in  his  county.  He  has  faithfully  attended  all  the  Local  and 
County  meetings,  where  he  has  been  instrumental  in  getting  his 
people  interested  in  co-operation. 

Smith^  T.  M.,  Union  City,  Ga. — Prominent  member  of  the 
Union,  and  has  been  assistant  in  the  P)usiness  Agent's  office  for 
quite  a  while,  and  an  efficient  and  painstaking  official. 

Smith,  W.  R.,  Tifton,  Ga. — County  President  and  an  all-round 
hustler.  As  County  School  Commissioner,  he  did  much  for  the 
advancement  of  education  in  Tift  County. 

Sibley,  John  A.,  Jr.,  Milledgeville,  Ga. — Was  elected  Business 
Agent  of  the  Baldwin  County  Union  at  the  time  of  organization, 
and  has  held  the  position  to  the  present  time ;  was  delegate  to  the 
State  Convention  at  Macon,  1908,  and  also  delegate  to  National 
Convention  at  New  Orleans. 

Stallings,  W.  L.,  Kingston,  Ga. — Chairman  State  Agricultural 
Committee ;  is  extending  the  work  of  the  Committee  to  the 
counties ;  delegate  to  State  meeting,  1908.  Delegate  to  New 
Orleans  convention  in  1908.     Stallings  is  an  intelligent  man. 

Speer,  T.  J.,  Jr.,  Covington,  Ga. — Began  work  as  an  organizer 
in  1907.  He  organized  Ne\\i:on,  Putnam,  Jasper,  and  Baldwin 
Counties  ;   has  done  good  work. 


318  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Stuart,  I.  N.,  Chatsworth,  Ga. — Manager  of  the  Warehouse  at 
his  place ;  a  patient  and  hard  worker  for  the  advancement  of  the 
Union.  It  was  by  his  efforts  that  his  county  built  a  warehouse, 
and  under  his  leadership  and  management  it  has  been  a  success. 

Stuart,  D.  A.,  Spring-  Place,  Ga. — Has  been  organizing  in 
Murray  County,  and  has  given  much  of  his  time  to  the  work. 

Stanley,  Mrs.  Mattie,  Due,  Ga. — The  first  and  only  lady 
Business  Agent,  and  one  of  the  best  to  be  found  in  the  State ;  be- 
lieves in  centralization  of  business  through  the  business  depart- 
ment ;  one  of  the  principal  factors  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause 
in  her  section  of  the  State. 

Snelling,  G.  W.,  Colbert,  Ga. — First  County  Business  Agent 
of  his  county,  serving  in  that  capacity  for  two  years ;  is  one  of 
the  best-known  business  men  in  his  county,  and  one  of  the  best 
farmers  in  his  section  of  the  State. 

Stephenson,  J.  J.,  Conyers,  Ga. — Organizer.  Has  been  a  good 
worker ;  made  a  number  of  speeches ;  has  done  a  lot  of  traveling 
and  organized  several  Local  Unions. 

Turner,  L.  C,  Ex-County  Business  Agent  of  Floyd  County, 
Armuchee,  Ga. — Was  elected  President  of  Floyd  Springs  Local 
Union  when  the  Local  was  organized ;  has  been  Trade  Agent  of 
his  Local  Union  and  County  Business  Agent  for  three  years ;  was 
a  member  of  a  committee  that  purchased  the  Floyd  County  Ware- 
house, the  first  union  warehouse  in  the  State ;  has  traveled 
through  mud,  rain,  and  cold  in  transacting  the  business  of  his 
County  Union,  and  has  never  failed  to  respond  when  called  upon. 
He  believes  in  diversifying  crops,  and  last  year  made  two  bales  of 
cotton  on  one  acre. 

Tatum,  R.  D.,  Palmetto,  Ga. — His  work  has  been  done  largely 
in  and  around  his  heme,  where  he  is  President  of  the  finest  working 
Local  in  the  county.  He  has  been  President  for  two  years,  and 
the  membership  has  doubled  each  year.  The  business  done  by  this 
Local  amounted  last  year  to  more  than  $10,000.00.  He  has  been 
a  delegate  to  State,  District,  and  County  Unions ;  was  delegate  to 
New  Orleans. 

TwiTTY,  J.  N.,  Gainesville,  Ga. — A  delegate  to  Growers  and 
Spinners'  Conference.  Is  one  of  the  old-time  fighters  for  reform ; 
a  splendid  debater ;  a  man  of  influence. 

Tyre,  Calvin,  Organizer,  Dublin,  Ga. — Joined  as  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  first  Local  Union  organized  in  Laurens  County,  and  was 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  319 

commissioned  as  Organizer  by  Duckworth  at  the  time ;  he  had  an 
up-hill  business  for  a  long  time,  organizing  in  Laurens  and  Glas- 
cock Counties ;  has  traveled  in  Laurens,  Wilkinson  Glascock, 
Warren  and  Hancock  Counties.  He  is  constantly  visiting  Local 
Unions  to  strengthen  and  revive  them. 

Thornton,  E.  J-,  Douglas,  Ga. — One  of  the  first  to  join  in  his 
county,  and  one  who  has  always  been  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  and 
defends  the  principles  of  the  organization  with  all  whom  he  comes 
in  contact ;  a  firm  believer  in  reform,  and  that  reform  will  come 
through  the  Farmers'  Union ;   is  Covmty  Business  Agent. 

ThompsOxV,  W.  H.,  Eastman,  Ga. — Secretary-Treasurer  Ware- 
house Company;  during  1908  warehouse  paid  fine  dividend  on 
stock  invested.  Warehouse  handled  all  bagging  sold  at  Eastman. 
Has  traveled  throughout  his  and  adjoining  counties.  A  persistent 
worker. 

Tankersley,  T.  p.,  Leathersville,  Ga. — Organizer.  Has  trav- 
eled 975  miles  ;  made  a  number  of  speeches  and  organized  twenty- 
one  Local  Unions.     He  has  been  a  faithful  worker. 

Taylor,  W.  T.,  Lovett,  Ga. — Has  traveled  three  thousand  miles, 
made  fifty  speeches,  organized  forty-seven  L'nions,  and  did  work  in 
fifteen  counties. 

Vickers,  W.  H.,  Douglas,  Ga. — Organizer  of  Cofifee  County ; 
has  done  a  great  work  by  his  persistent  effort  in  bringing  the 
people  of  his  county  and  section  into  the  organization ;  a  splendid 
farmer  whose  farm  is  self-supporting,  and  a  great  believer  in 
reform. 

Venable,  J.  C,  Lawrenceville,  Ga. — State  Chaplain. 

Watson,  Thomas  Edward,  Thomson,  Ga. — Lawyer,  orator, 
statesman,  and  author.  The  following  are  some  of  the  books  he 
has  written  :  "The  Story  of  France."  "Napoleon,"  "The  Life  and 
Times  of  Thomas  Jefferson,"  "The  Life  and  Times  of  Andrew 
Jackson."  He  is  now  conducting,  as  owner  and  editor.  The 
Wccklv  Jcffcrsoiiian  and  the  Monthly  Watson's  Jeffcrsonian  Mag- 
azine. When  a  member  of  Congress  he  was  instrumental  in 
having  passed  a  law  requiring  the  railroads  to  equip  their  freight 
cars  with  automatic  couplers.  During  the  same  Congress,  he 
gave  a  start  to  the  rural  free  delivery  of  mail ;  has  made  speeches 
for  the  Farmers'  L^nion  in  several  States,  and  has  attended  Na- 
tional meetings.  He  has  responded  to  every  call  of  the  Farmers' 
Union. 


320 


MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


rUOMlNENT    WDKKKIt.S,    KANSAS    DIVISION. 
].   Alkx.  Nayi-ok,  Kx-Vicc-1'resldent. 
2.   E.   M.   UoGEits,   Kx-Stato   Socrotary-Treasurer. 
."?.    F.  I.  IJritT.  Kx-Miiii1pct  Stale  Kxociitivp  Cominlttee. 
4.   Jamks  ItiTLKU,  i:x  MiiiiIhi-  N'alioiial  Hoard  of  Di  roc  tors. 
.■"..    K.  S.  Sv.wuis.  Kx  MciiilxT  Stale  lOxeciit  ivc  Committee. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  321 

WooTEN,  15.  J.,  Colle^^c  Park.  (ia. — Joined  the  Union  at  the  first 
opportunity  ;  has  been  a  niemljer  of  the  Grange  and  the  AlUance, 
in  which  lie  did  good  work ;  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  Union  movement  since  he  joined,  first  as  an  Organizer  in 
Elbert  and  other  counties.  In  the  summer  of  1907.  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  a  division  of  the  lecture  work,  and  has  been  doing  this 
kind  of  work  ever  since.  He  has  always  gone  wherever  sent 
without  a  murmur  or  a  complaint,  and  has  always  devoted  every 
energy  to  the  cause. 

Williams,  J.  B.,  Canon,  Ga. — Is  a  leading  l^nion  man  of 
Northeast  Georgia,  and  has  done  as  much  to  organize  his  county 
into  a  big  system  as  any  man  in  the  State.  He  has  done  this  work 
unselfishly,  commanding  the  respect  and  the  confidence  of  his 
people.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  successful  farmers  of 
Hart  County ;  lives  at  home,  and  encourages  farmers  of  his  sec- 
tion to  diversify  tlicir  crops,  thereby  improving  their  land,  and  to 
make  cotton  a  surplus  crop. 

Wall,  J.  J.,  EUaville,  Ga. — The  last  to  leave  the  Alliance,  and 
one  of  the  first  to  join  the  Farmers'  Union  in  his  county.  Attends 
all  of  its  meetings  ;  has  never  missed  a  single  meeting  since  joining. 
A  leader  in  his  community. 

Webb,  W.  W.,  Hahira,  Ga. — President  Sea  Island  Cotton  Com- 
pany, with  headquarters  in  Savannah  ;  member  of  committee  to 
ask  Congress  to  put  a  duty  on  Egyptian  cotton ;  has  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  T7nion  movement  in  Lowdnes  and  adjoining 
counties  since  the  introduction  of  the  Union  into  that  section  of 
the  State.      Is  a  good  worker. 

Walraven,  a.  H.,  Dallas,  Ga. — Has  organized  a  number  of 
local  Unions  and  traveled  many  miles ;  was  Organizer  for  Walker 
County,  where,  as  he  says,  he  wore  out  a  new  buggy  and  came 
near  freezing  to  death  while  organizing  the  county ;  has  been 
working  largely  in  his  own  county  since,  and  is  manager  of  the 
Union  Warehouse  at  Dallas. 

\\'nrBERLY,  F.  D..  Cochran,  Ga. — Was  prominent  in  the  Alliance 
and  State  Lecturer  in  that  order.  After  the  war.  spent  his  nights 
in  study  of  questions  relating  to  the  farmer.  After  overthrow  of 
the  Alliance,  awaited  the  coming  of  another  organization.  Joined 
the  Union  as  soon  as  an  opportunity  presented  itself.  Has  been 
working  every  since.  Wherever  he  goes,  he  speaks  and  works 
for  the  Union. 
21 


322  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Walker,  William  J.,  Organizer,  Rome,  Ga. — Charter  member 
of  his  Local  Union ;  Assistant  Business  Agent  of  his  county  ;  trav- 
eled all  over  his  and  adjoining  counties,  making  speeches  for  the 
Union ;  member  of  committee  that  bought  warehouse ;  County 
Lecturer  of  Floyd  County,  and  a  general  hustler. 

Wright,  W,  L.,  Tate,  Ga. — Joined  the  Union  November,  1907, 
as  charter  member  of  his  Local ;  has  visited  the  Local  Unions  in 
his  and  adjoining  counties,  where  he  encouraged  the  membership 
and  urged  the  outsiders  to  join. 

Wood,    W.    C,    McDonough,    Ga. — Business    Agent    Henry 

County;  has  been  delegate  to  all  the  State  meetings  since  joining; 
director  Carmical  Implement  Company  and  Union  Phosphate 
Company.     He  is  a  successful  and  prosperous  farmer. 

Waller,  R.  J.,  Swainsboro,  Ga. — Has  organized  in  four  coun- 
ties ;  has  traveled  several  hundred  miles  and  made  a  number  of 
speeches.     Attended  National  Convention  at  New  Orleans. 

Walker,  D.  F.,  Gaston,  Ga. — Has  traveled  about  one  thousand 
miles,  making  speeches  and  organizing  L^nions.  He  has  done  good 
and  faithful  work. 

Whitney,  G.  C,  Cherrsdog,  Ga. — One  of  the  livest  local  Busi- 
ness Agents  to  be  found  in  the  ranks  of  the  organization ;  a  strong 
believer  in  co-operation,  and  believes  in  living  the  principles  of  the 
Farmers'  Union. 

Ward,  J.  B.,  Cork,  Ga. — One  among  the  leaders  of  the  cause 
in  his  section,  and  the  livest  Business  Agent,  having  served  in 
that  capacity  since  its  organization  in  his  county ;  one  who  be- 
lieves in  doing  things  co-operatively. 

Wilson,  William  G.,  Craytonia,  Ga. — One  of  the  hardest 
workers  of  his  section ;  has  been  Business  Agent  since  the  Union 
was  organized  in  his  county ;  believes  in  co-operation,  and  is  always 
found  laboring  for  advancement  of  the  farmer. 

Whigham,  W.  L.,  Whigham,  Ga. — One  among  the  leading 
Business  Agents  of  South  Georgia,  and  a  man  who  has  labored 
hard  for  the  cause  in  his  section,  especially  for  cane  growers. 

Walker,  W.  P.,  Griffin,  Ga. — Has  done  quite  a  lot  of  lecturing 
and  is  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  country  ;  has  won  many  prizes 
at  State  fairs. 

Youmans,  S.  L.,  Jesup,  Ga. — Has  traveled  600  miles  ;  organized 
eleven  local  Unions ;  has  been  County  Trade  Agent,  Director  of 
warehouse,  and  is  now  County  Organizer  and  Lecturer. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION,  323 


CHAPTER  XXVII 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES— ILLINOIS,    INDIANA,    KANSAS, 

KENTUCKY. 


ILLINOIS. 

Bain,  W.  A.,  Vice-President,  Benton,  111. — The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Franklin  County,  Illinois,  February, 
1855  ;  was  charter  member  of  the  first  farmers'  organization  in  his 
county.  In  1889,  was  elected  Secretary  of  his  local  organization, 
and  has  held  that  position  ever  since ;  in  1903,  was  elected  National 
President  of  the  Association.  Two  other  organizations  came  into 
prominence  in  his  State,  namely :  the  Farmers'  Relief  Association 
and  the  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union.  He,  with  others, 
thought  it  best  to  consolidate,  and  after  repeated  efforts  on  the  part 
of  the  committee,  they  were  consolidated  at  Pinkneyville,  May, 

1906.  He  was  elected  National  President  of  the  combined  organ- 
ization, which  was  to  be  known  as  the  Farmers'  Union.  He  at 
once  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  officers  of  the 
Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America,  or 
with  a  like  committee  if  they  should  appoint  one,  and  in  January, 

1907,  the  articles  of  consolidation  were  perfected,  and  in  March, 
the  same  year,  at  ATarion,  the  Farmers'  Union  became  the  Farmers' 
Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America,  and  was  organ- 
ized as  a  State  Union,  he  being  elected  Vice-President,  and  was 
re-elected  at  the  convention  of  1908. 

BuRKETT,  Joe,  Orchardville,  111. — Born  in  Wayne  County,  III, 
October  29,  1866,  on  a  farm.  Has  spent  greater  part  of  his  life 
as  a  farmer  and  merchant ;  became  a  member  of  the  Union  in  1907, 
serving  first  as  Local  Business  Agent,  and  was  elected  State  Busi- 
ness Agent  in  August,  1908 ;  has  studied  and  worked  particularly 
for  co-operation  among  the  farmers ;  has  done  excellent  work  for 
the  Union  in  his  State. 

Blakely,  Virgil,  Millshoals,  111. — Has  been  active  in  the  organ- 
izing work  in  his  State.  He  has  made  a  number  of  speeches  ;  has 
done  a  lot  of  traveling,  and  organized  several  Unions. 


324  MISSIOX,   HISTORY  AXD  TIMES 

Bennett,  G.  W.,  Benton,  111. — Ex-State  Executive  Committee- 
man ;  active  worker  in  F.  R.  A.  and  Farmers'  Union ;  was  fra- 
ternal delegate  to  second  Convention  of  the  National  Union. 

Crews,  W.  D.,  ^lurphysboro,  111.— Editor  of  the  Union 
Farmer.  Was  born  in  Jackson,  Illinois,  on  December  7,  1856. 
He  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  while  yet  a  small  boy,  made  a 
regular  business  of  working  in  the  field  at  whatever  a  boy  can  do. 
He  attended  the  common  schools  a  part  of  every  winter  until  he 
became  a  young  man,  after  which  he  attended  college  for  a  short 
while  and  taught  school  for  about  ten  years,  teaching  in  winter, 
but  usually  farming  in  summer.  Later  he  settled  down  to  straight 
farming  for  a  number  of  years.  While  engaged  in  the  dual 
business  of  farming  and  teaching,  he  was  married  in  1887  to  ]\Iiss 
Dorothy  Porter,  also  a  country  school  teacher.  Their  union  was 
blessed  with  a  family  of  five  children.  By  hard  work  and  close 
economy  they  have  made  for  themselves  a  nice,  comfortable  farm 
home.  During  six  years  from  the  spring  of  1886  to  1892,  Crews 
was  actively  engaged  in  the  w'ork  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit 
Association,  an  order  somewhat  similar  to  the  present  Farmers' 
Union.  He  was  a  charter  member  and  Secretary  of  the  first 
Lodge  organized  within  his  reach,  and  was  the  last  County  Pres- 
ident the  order  ever  had  in  his  county.  In  the  earlv  spring  of 
ic)oo.  he  met  with  about  seventy-five  other  farmers  of  his  county 
for  the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  to  go  into  some  sort  of 
farmers'  organization.  On  his  own  motion,  this  meeting  ap- 
pointed an  investigating  committee  to  learn  whether  there  was  in 
existence  at  that  time  any  organization  suited  to  their  needs.  As 
Crews  was  the  first  named  on  that  committee,  it  fell  to  his  lot  to 
conduct  the  correspondence  and  investigation.  The  committee 
was  instructed  to  report  at  the  next  meeting,  which  was  to  be 
held  at  the  same  place  two  weeks  later.  That  two  weeks  of  cor- 
respondence and  investigation  convinced  Crews  that  no  farmers' 
organization  then  at  work  would  suit  the  farmers  of  his  locality. 
So,  after  much  careful  thought,  he  planned  and  named  the 
Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union,  an  organization  almost 
like  the  F.  E.  &  C.  U.  A.,  as  it  was  organized  later.  When  that 
body  of  Jackson  County  farmers  again  met  to  hear  the  report 
of  their  investigating  committee.  Crews  presented  and  explained 
the  plan  of  the  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union,  which,  after 
some  discussion,  was  adopted  without  any  change  in  either  name 
or  plan.  Thus,  on  the  night  of  April  27,  1900,  came  into  existence 
the  first  real  up-to-date  Farmers'  LTnion  ever  organized.  Crews 
also  formulated  almost  all  of  the  first  constitution  and  by-laws  of 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  325 

that  Union.  He  was  elected  first  State  Ori;anizer  of  the  order, 
and  afterwards,  for  two  years,  was  President  of  its  Board  of 
Trustees.  Later,  he  was  the  first  to  propose  a  consohdation  of 
the  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union  with  two  other  farmers' 
organizations,  which  was  accomplished  in  the  spring  of  1906. 
The  new  organization  being  named  the  Farmers'  Union.  When, 
in  October,  1902,  Gresham  organized  the  Farmers'  Educational 
and  Co-operative  Union  of  America,  it  was  so  wonderfully  like 
the  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union,  that  egotism  might  have 
caused  Crews  to  think  that  the  Texas  Union  had  been  copied 
from  the  Illinois  Union.  But  Crews  says,  instead  of  thinking 
this,  he  took  it  for  granted  that  Gresham  was  inspired  by  the  same 
God  of  heaven,  who  suggested  the  plan  of  the  Farmers'  Social 
and  Economic  Union,  When  it  was  found  that  the  Farmers' 
Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America  was  so  far  out- 
stripping its  older  brother,  both  as  to  spreading  and  doing  co-op- 
erative business,  Crews,  through  the  Union  Farmer,  of  which  he 
had  been  editor  since  April,  1902,  and  which  was  the  official  organ 
of  the  Farmers'  Union,  began  to  agitate  the  idea  of  consolidating 
with,  or  merging  into,  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative 
Union  of  America.  He  corresponded  with  Newt.  Gresham, 
H.  N.  Gaines,  O.  P.  Pyle,  and  others,  with  a  view  to  consolidation. 
When,  in  the  summer  of  1906,  he  thought  the  opportunity  was 
ripe,  he  suggested  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Farmers'  Union 
the  advisability  of  calling  a  meeting  to  appoint  a  committee  to 
attend  the  National  Union  of  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co- 
operative Union  of  America  to  seek  a  consolidation  with  or  admis- 
sion into  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of 
America.  The  meeting  was  called  and  the  committee  was 
appointed,  with  the  result  that  on  March  28,  1907,  Barrett 
received  the  Farmers'  Union  into  the  Farmers'  Educational  and 
Co-operative  Union  of  America.  The  same  meeting  that  merged 
the  Farmers'  Union  into  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-op- 
erative Union  of  America  also  transferred  the  ownership  of  the 
Union  Farmer  from  the  Union  to  W.  D.  Crews,  who  had  up  to 
that  time  simply  edited  it  for  the  Union.  Since  that  time,  he  has 
been  running  the  paper  as  a  helper  of  the  Union  work  in  Missouri, 
Illinois,  and  Indiana.  In  connection  with  the  work  of  editing  the 
paper,  he  has  all  the  time  been  a  practical  farmer  and  a  member  in 
good  standing  in  the  Union.  He  attended  the  State  Convention 
of  Missouri  in  1907  and  1908,  the  Memphis  Convention  in  Jan- 
uary, 1908,  and  the  State  Convention  of  Kentucky,  in  1908,  and 
represented  Illinois  in  the  National  Convention  at  Fort  Worth, 


326  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

in  September,  1908.  The  Union  Farmer,  under  great  difficulties, 
is  still  battling  for  the  cause  of  unionism,  making  headway  slowly 
and  gradually,  and  hoping  for  the  day  of  the  farmers'  victory. 

Craig,  J-  T.,  Elizabethtown,  111. — INIember  of  Illinois  Executive 
Committee  since  August  18,  1908;  an  earnest  worker  in  the  cause. 

Davis,  J.  C,  DeSoto,  111. — Has  done  good  work  in  his  section 
in  helping  to  organize  the  farmers ;  was  Lecturer  and  Deputy 
State  Organizer  of  the  farmers'  organization  of  his  State  before 
they  were  merged  with  the  Farmers'  Union. 

Evans,  A.  H.,  Tamaroa,  111. — President  of  Illinois  State  Union. 
Is  a  native  of  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  June  2,. 
185 1,  he  being  of  Welch  and  Dutch  descent.  In  1854,  he  moved 
v^^ith  his  father  to  Perry  County,  Illinois,  and  as  soon  as  he  was 
old  enough,  began  to  work  on  a  farm.  His  father  died  in  the 
Federal  Army  in  1864,  and  young  Evans  being  the  only  boy  in  the 
family,  had  to  support  his  mother  and  two  sisters.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Grange  and  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association 
and  the  Farmers'  Social  and  Economic  Union,  of  which  he  was 
State  President,  and  when  this  organization  was  merged  with  the 
Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  in  1906,  A.  H. 
Evans  was  elected  President  of  the  Illinois  Division,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  holds.     Has  served  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Green,  W.  D.,  Kell,  111. — Was  born  on  a  farm  in  Marion 
County,  November  15,  1878;  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
at  Centralia  and  in  his  home  town ;  attended  Normal  School  at 
Alma,  Illinois;  joined  the  Union  May  i,  1907,  and  was  elected 
President  of  his  Union  at  the  time ;  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  Executive  Committee,  August,  1907,  and  is  now  serving  as 
Secretary  of  the  State  Executive  Committee.  He  is  a  staunch 
Union  man,  and  a  faithful  worker. 

Hunter,  E.  B.,  Murphysboro,  111. — Secretary  of  Farmers' 
Social  and  Economic  Union  practically  all  through  its  separate 
existence ;  Secretary  of  the  Farmers'  Union  until  it  was  merged 
with  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  Amer- 
ica. State  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Illinois  Division  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Educational  and  Co-operative  Union  of  America  since  March, 
1907 ;  was  a  fraternal  delegate  to  second  convention  of  the  Na- 
tional Union,  and  has  done  a  lot  of  good,  solid  work. 

Henson,  J.  F.,  Orchardville,  111. — Was  elected  State  Organizer 
and  State  Chaplain  in  1907,  and  was  re-elected  Chaplain,  1908; 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  327 

was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee  at  the 
convention  in  1908.  He  had  done  some  organizing,  and  is  serv- 
ing his  State  well  as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee.  He 
has  done  much  in  his  State  to  make  the  Union  go. 

Hays,  H.  C,  Orchardville,  111. — President  of  Marion  County 
Union  ever  since  it  was  organized,  in  1907 ;  has  done  some  organ- 
izing; seems  to  be  a  good  worker. 

Jones,  J.  W.,  Sand  Ridge,  111. — Has  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  various  farmers'  movements  in  his  State;  was  National 
Lecturer  of  one  of  these  for  two  years.  He  has  assisted  in  organ- 
izing Local  Unions  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Ketterman,  G.  W.,  Ewing,  111. — Ex-State  Executive  Commit- 
teeman and  fraternal  delegate  to  second  convention  of  National 
Union. 

Myers,  H.  A.,  Orchardville,  111. — has  been  lecturing  and  organ- 
izing in  his  State.  During  his  term  as  Organizer,  he  has  taken 
in  several  hundred  members. 

RiGGS,  John  T.,  Elizabethtown,  111. — Was  born  in  Hardin 
County,  Illinois,  January  27,  1869,  on  a  farm  five  miles  from  Cave- 
in-Rock ;  was  educated  in  the  district  schools ;  was  elected 
Assessor  and  Treasurer  of  Hardin  County  in  the  fall  of  1897,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  four  years.  He  first  became  identified 
with  farmers'  organizations  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  By  his 
energetic  work  a  County  Union  was  organized,  August  6,  1907, 
he  being  chosen  President  for  the  remainder  of  the  year,  and 
elected  again  in  December  for  a  full  term ;  was  elected  delegate 
to  the  State  meeting,  August,  1907,  which  body  elected  him  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  State.  Mr.  Riggs  is 
one  among  the  active  workers  of  the  Union  of  the  State. 

Sanders,  G.  B.,  Sparta,  111. — Has  been  connected  with  the 
various  farmers'  organizations  of  his  State  for  many  years ;  joined 
the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-operative  L^nion  upon  its  intro- 
duction into  Illinois ;  has  organized  in  Illinois  and  Missouri ;  is 
Chairman  of  the  State  Executive  Committee.  In  1905,  was  State 
President  of  a  farmers'  organization  in  his  State,  composed  of 
three  diflferent  organizations,  styled  "The  Farmers'  Union." 

Sims,  ^l.  '\\.,  ]\fcLcansboro.  III. — Ex-State  Executive  Commit- 
teeman. He  was  a  worker  in  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation and  other  farmers'  organizations.     An  earnest  worker. 


328 


MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


S'I'Ali;  ni  I  K   lAI.S,   riJiKIDA  DIVISION. 

].   M.  S.  Knight,  Stale  I'l-esidcnt. 
2.  .1.    U.     Pi'.\ri'iinKy,    Socreliiry-TioMsuivr. 
3.   S.  W.  LocKi:,  St:it(!  Lcclnror.        4.   C.  K.  I'lkdgku,  Vico-rrosident. 
5.  G.  0.  Bush,  State  Orfeanlzer. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  329 

Walker,  J.  M.,  DlinsteacI,  111. — Has  been  a  iiK-niber  oi  the 
Farmers'  Union  ever  since  it  existed  in  his  State ;  is  President 
of  his  local  Union,  and  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Commit- 
tee. He  is  workin^q-  to  establish  the  Union  warehouse  plan  in  his 
State,  and  is  doing'  all  that  he  can  do  for  the  cause. 

Weinmeister,  John  K.,  Washington,  Ind. — Joined  the  Union 
in  1904;  was  appointed  Organizer  in  Arkansas  May,  1905,  by 
J.  T.  Ratten,  who  was  then  State  President;  worked  in  Arkansas 
till  Fcl)ruary  ;  went  to  Missouri  upon  call  to  help  H.  M.  Ray,  the 
State  Organizer,  to  bring  that  State  to  statehood,  which  they  suc- 
ceeded in  accomplishing  March  20,  1907;  was  then  sent  to  In- 
diana as  State  Organizer  to  bring  that  State  to  statehood.  In- 
diana had  previously  been  organized  by  Brother  Martin,  of 
Arkansas,  but  failed.  Arrived  in  Indiana  April,  1907.  He  found 
twenty-two  Unions  in  the  State,  some  of  which  were  organized 
by  our  Organizers,  and  some  by  the  consolidation  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  of  Illinois.  There  are  now  150  Unions  in  the  State.  He 
has  had  uphill  work,  but  the  outlook  is  brighter  now  than  any 
time  in  the  history  of  the  Union,  and  hope  to  attain  statehood  in 
the  near  future. 

Allen,  Al\'an,  Jctmore,  Kan. — Ex-State  Secretary  of  the 
Farmers'  Union ;  has  done  good  work. 

Butler,  James,  Topeka.  Kan. — Ex-]\Iember  of  the  National 
Board  of  Directors.  Was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  October 
22,  1856.  He  settled  in  Kansas  in  1878;  was  a  farmer  and  stock 
grower  for  years  in  that  State.  He  is  one  of  the  best  informed 
men  in  the  United  States  on  the  principles  of  co-operation ;  held 
the  position  of  Stewart  of  the  State  Hospital,  located  at  Topeka, 
Kan.,  1893-94,  under  Governor  Lewelling's  administration.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  State  grain  inspection  department  of  Kan- 
sas in  1899;  has  held  the  position  of  superintendent  and  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  State  Industrial  School  for  Boys,  located 
at  Topeka.  He  is  the  author  of  the  ''Expose  of  the  Grain  Trust," 
copyrighted  in  1902;  promoter  of  the  farmers'  co-operative  ele- 
vator system,  organized  at  Salina,  Kan.,  May  15-16,  1901 ;  pro- 
moter of  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Shipping  Association,  or- 
ganized at  Topeka,  December  2-3,  1902,  and  chartered  May  28, 
1903.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  National  Board  of  Direc- 
tors of  the  Farmers'  Union  at  Texarkana  in  1906. 

Burt,  F.  I.,  Hallet,  Kan. — Ex-member  of  the  board ;  was  born 
at  Wabaunsee,  Kan.,  in   1866.     He  was  one  of  the  first  in  the 


330  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

county  to  go  into  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  is  President  of  the 
County  Union  and  an  officer  in  a  farmers'  telephone  company. 
He  has  been  prominent  in  politics,  church  and  Sunday  school 
work  in  Wabaunsee  and  Hodgman  counties. 

Burton,  Mrs.,  Kansas. — Lecturer  of  the  Kansas  State  Union. 
The  second  woman  to  be  elected  to  a  State  office  in  the  Farmers' 
Union.  Mrs.  Burton  responded  in  a  very  eloquent  address  to  the 
address  of  welcome  at  the  last  State  meeting.  She  also  served 
on  important  committees. 

Bachaian,  F..  Great  Bend,  Kan. — Ex-member  of  the  board; 
lives  near  Great  Bend,  and  has  a  large  wheat  farm.  He  has  spent 
all  his  life  on  the  farm  with  the  exception  of  ten  years,  during 
which  he  served  the  Santa  Fe  Railway  as  a  locomotive  engineer 
and  fireman.  He  quit  the  Santa  Fe  Railway  during  the  A.  R.  U. 
strike  in  1894. 

Canfield,  Mr.,  Kansas. — Vice-President  of  the  Kansas  State 
Union.  Unanimously  elected  at  the  last  State  meeting.  He  has 
held  other  important  offices  in  the  Farmers'  Union. 

Fames,  W.  B.,  Delphos,  Kan. — A  member  of  the  State  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  Kansas  State  Union.  A  good  worker  for  the 
Union  cause. 

Gant,  Joseph  L.,  Forest  City,  Kan. — Ex-member  of  the 
board ;  was  born  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  In  the  year  1880  he 
moved  to  Barber  County,  Kansas,  where  he  has  lived  since  that 
time.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  took  charge  of  the  ranch,  his 
parents  moving  to  Medicine  Lodge.  Later  he  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  the  raising  of  cattle  and  horses,  which  occupation  he 
is  following-  at  present.  In  February,  1908,  Mr.  Gant  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Farmers'  Union  of 
the  State  of  Kansas. 

Gains,  H.  N.,  Topeka,  Kan. — Ex-editor  of  the  Fanners'  Advo- 
cate, published  in  Topeka,  and  through  the  columns  of  this  paper 
aided  in  the  earlier  movement  of  the  Union  in  the  State.  He  is 
ex-State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and  a  strong 
writer. 

Hewins,  Edwin  H.,  Topeka,  '  Kan. — Ex-President  of  the 
Farmers'  U^nion  of  Kansas.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Shawnee 
County  in  1865.  Fie  has  spent  his  life  on  the  farm.  Mr.  Hewins 
has  long  been  interested  in  farmers'  reform  movements. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  331 

McAuLiFF,  Maurice,  Salina,  Kan. — President  of  Kansas  State 
Union;  lives  near  Salina,  on  a  big,  well-improved  farm.  He  has 
been  the  assessor  of  his  township.  He  is  a  jolly  and  progressive 
citizen  of  Kansas,  though  he  was  born  in  Ireland ;  emigrated  to 
America  when  he  was  about  eighteen  years  old.  He  is  greatly 
interested  in  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  the  indications  are  that  he 
will  have  things  going  in  Kansas. 

A'IcQuillen,  J.  E.,  Heizer,  Kan. — Has  been  active  in  reform 
work  in  Kansas  for  a  long  time ;  served  as  Representative  in  the 
Kansas  Legislature ;  was  first  President  of  the  Farmers'  Union  in 
Kansas. 

MoNGOLD,  ScoTT,  Salina,  Kan. — Has  held  position  of  County 
Secretary,  and -is  a  good  active  Union  worker. 

Newlin,  E.  S.,  Emporia,  Kan. — Ex-Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Directors.  Was  born  in  Lyon  County,  Kansas,  in  1862.  He  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Lyon  County  in  1892,  and  after 
his  term  expired  moved  back  to  the  farm,  five  miles  southwest  of 
Emporia.  Plis  time  is  devoted  to  farming,  feeding  and  handling 
cattle. 

Naylor,  Alex,  Cimaron,  Kan. — A  bright  young  man ;  has 
filled  the  position  of  Vice-President  of  Kansas  Union  one  term. 

Rogers,  E.  M.,  Topeka,  Kan. — Ex-Secretary-Treasurer  of 
Kansas  State  Union.  Was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio.  He 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Kansas,  in  which  State  he  began  life's 
battles  at  the  age  of  fourteen ;  received  his  education  in  the  public 
business  and  State  schools.  He  has  combined  farming  and  teach- 
ing since  1884 ;  has  been  allied  with  reform  movements  since  be- 
ginning his  active  work  as  a  teacher.  On  August  20,  1908,  he 
was  elected  State  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Farmers'  Union  for 
Kansas. 

Rork,  M.  v.,  Topeka,  Kan. — Active  in  reform  work  for  many 
years ;  has  done  lecturing  work  in  many  of  the  Union  States ;  be- 
lieves in  the  progressive  principles  of  co-operation,  and  works  to 
demonstrate  co-operation.  An  able  man,  and  has  no  superior  as 
a  blackboard  demonstrator  and  lecturer. 

Roadhouse,  Eli  P.,  Kansas. — Secretary  of  the  Kansas  State 
Union.    Elected  at  the  last  State  meeting. 

Barnett,  R.  L.,  State  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Kentucky,  Pa- 
ducah,  Ky. — Was  born  near  Pine  Level,  in  Montgomery  County, 


332  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Alabama,  December  23,  1863.  and  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Cado  Parish,  Louisiana,  in  1874;  from  there  moved  to  Hunt 
County,  Texas,  1876;  married  1884;  joined  the  Grange  1886; 
nominated  for  district  clerk  for  his  county  1888;  joined  the  Farm- 
ers' Alliance  1889;  nominated  for  Representative  for  Twenty- 
third  District  of  Texas  1889;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  1903; 
has  been  a  delegate  from  his  local  Union  to  every  County  Union, 
and  a  delegate  to  every  State  Union,  and  a  delegate  to  every 
National  Union  from  the  State  of  Texas  up  to  the  time  of  leaving 
the  State,  March,  1906.  He  assisted  Newt.  Gresham  in  organiz- 
ing the  Tennessee  State  Union,  going  from  there  to  Kentucky  as 
State  Organizer,  where  he  organized  his  first  County  Union, 
August,  1906;  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Kentucky 
State  Union  at  Paducah,  August  7,  1908.  R.  L.  Barnett  has  been 
a  persistent  worker  for  the  Union  cause,  and  in  his  work  has  faced 
many  a  hard  proposition,  but  he  has  been  equal  to  the  occasion, 
and  the  Kentucky  State  Union  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  perse- 
verance and  energy.  He  has  been  in  the  forefront  battling  for 
the  cause.  While  organizing  in  Kentucky,  he  was  appointed  one 
of  a  committee  to  sell  the  tobacco  of  the  Union  members,  and 
was  able  to  get  the  biggest  price  for  it  paid  west  of  the  Tennessee 
River. 

Grady^  Rev.  John,  Gilbertsville,  Ky.- — Is  the  present  Chairman 
of  the  State  Executive  Board  of  Kentucky.  He  is  a  Baptist 
minister,  and  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Union ;  has  made  many 
strong  speeches  in  the  interest  of  the  cause. 

Johnson,  Robert,  State  President,  Tolu,  Ky. — Was  born  in 
Kentucky  May  12,  1868.  Among  his  folks  are  to  be  found  lead- 
ing politicians,  orators  and  preachers.  He  is  a  relative  of  Presi- 
dent Andrew  Johnson.  At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  entered  school 
and  remained  for  eight  years,  receiving  a  good  education.  He 
joined  the  Farmers'  Union  February,  1908,  and  was  elected 
President  of  Crittenden  County  Union  shortly  after.  At  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  Kentucky,  August  8,  1908, 
he  was  elected  State  President.  He  has  been  an  ardent  speaker, 
having  made  about  150  speeches  in  behalf  of  the  Union  since 
having  been  elected  President. 

Jones,  Samuel  H.,  Cunningham,  Ky. — He  is  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  born ;  has  been  a  farmer  all  of  his  life ; 
joined  the  Union  in  May.  1906,  and  was  elected  President  of  his 
l(jcal   the  night  he  joined ;   was   elected   County  Organizer  and 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION,  333 

Lecturer  August,  1906;  elected  County  President  January,  1908, 
and  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  CJjmniittee,  1908. 

Jones,  J.  F.,  Tolu,  Ky. — Is  the  present  County  Business  Agent 
of  Crittenden  County. 

Latta,  T.  B.,  Fulton,  Ky. — Was  elected  a  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Board  in  August,  1908.     He  is  agreeable  iti  his  work. 

Tapp,  M.  B.,  Woodville.  Ky. — Was  born  in  Henderson  County, 
Kentucky,  in  1862;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  at  the  lirst  oppor- 
tunity ;  was  elected  County  President  at  the  organization  of  same 
and  served  for  two  years ;  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee,  of  which  he  was  made  Secretary.  Always 
has  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel  in  the  interest  of  the  Farmers' 
Union. 

Thomas,  L.,  Milber,  Ky. — Was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Con- 
vention at  Paducah,  where  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee ;  is  President  of  his  County  Union,  and  has 
been  a  faithful  member  since  the  beginning  of  the  Union  in  his 
State, 

Wilson,  Aubrey  L.,  Hickory  Grove.,  Ky. — Was  born  June, 
1883,  on  a  farm  in  Graves  County,  Kentucky,  His  entire  life 
has  been  spent  on  a  farm,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  months 
he  spent  in  school  at  Henderson,  Tennessee,  and  Mayfield,  Ken- 
tucky, He  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  the  first  time  he  ever  heard 
its  principles  expounded.  As  a  speaker,  he  ranks  high.  He  was 
elected  Vice-President  of  the  State  Union  in  Paducah,  Ky.,  in 
August,  1908.  In  the  capacity  of  Vice-President,  he  has  traveled 
through  the  State,  making  speeches  in  defense  of  the  principles  of 
the  Union.  He  has  done  work  that  has  had  its  effect  upon  the 
advancement  of  the  order,  and  is  still  active. 


334  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


CHAPTER  XXVIII, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES— LOUISIANA,    MISSISSIPPI, 
MISSOURI. 

Ambrose,  J.  A,,  Ruston,  La. — Is  first  of  all  a  Baptist  minister 
of  the  old  school,  who  became  associated  with  the  Farmers'  Union 
as  soon  as  it  made  its  advent  into  his  section,  and  from  the  very 
first  took  an  active  part  in  organizing  work ;  was  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  State  Union,  and  was  made  Chaplain,  which  position 
he  has  held  continuously  since,  having  been  re-elected  from  year 
to  year  without  opposition.  Ambrose  is  a  model  farmer,  and  one 
of  the  few  hill  farmers  of  Louisiana  who  has  made  a  success  of 
farming.  He  attributes  his  success  to  having  always  raised  his 
living,  together  with  his  feed  for  his  stock  on  his  farm,  and  only 
raising  cotton  as  a  surplus. 

Alford,  W.  R.,  Ft.  Jesup,  La.— Was  one  of  the  men  who  left 
Texas  to  carry  the  gospel  of  Unionism  to  Louisiana.  He  was 
actively  engaged  in  organization  work  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  State.  After  Louisiana  obtained  her  charter  and  organized 
her  own  State  Union,  and  took  over  her  organization,  Alford  con- 
tinued to  do  local  work  in  connection  with  his  work  of  teaching 
school,  and  is  still  engaged  in  teaching  in  Vernon  Parish. 

Arceneaux,  J.  F.,  Brittany,  La. — Young  Arceneaux  was  one 
of  the  many  young  men  of  Louisiana  who  became  associated  with 
the  organization  from  the  very  first,  and,  being  a  teacher  of 
Ascension  Parish,  he  devoted  his  best  efforts  to  the  organization, 
and  was  from  the  start  an  acknowledged  leader  in  his  parish, 
having  served  as  Parish  Secretary-Treasurer  one  term ;  also 
Parish  Lecturer  one  term ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  LTnion  held 
at  Winnfield  in  1908,  where  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  convention,  serving  on  important  committees; 
was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  was 
only  beaten  by  eight  votes.  He  was  later  nominated  as  one  of 
the  delegates  to  the  National  Union,  and  won  out  on  the  first 
ballot.     Brother  Arceneaux  was  made  one  of  the  Committee  on 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  335 

Credentials  at  Fort  Worth,  and  also  held  other  important  com- 
mittee appointements. 

Antony,  Miss  Maude,  Rattan,  La. — She  has  been  a  good 
and  faithful  worker  in  the  Pleasant  Hill  local,  and  is  doing  all  she 
can  for  the  Union. 

BoYETT^  J.  W.,  Jr.,  Winnfield,  La. — Ex-Secretary-Treasurer, 
and  Lecturer  of  Louisiana;  was  born  in  Winnfield,  La.,  in  1875, 
in  which  town  he  is  still  living ;  worked  on  a  farm  till  grown ;  had 
few  school  advantages,  but  improved  every  opportunity,  attend- 
ing the  schools  near  him  for  a  few  months  each  year  till  of  age ; 
married  Miss  Josie  Jordan,  of  Winnfield  Parish,  1899;  bought  a 
farm  in  1899,  upon  which  he  lived  till  elected  Secretary-Treasurer 
of  the  Louisiana  Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  April  4,  1905 ; 
served  in  this  capacity  till  August  i,  1908,  when  he  was  elected 
Organizer  and  Lecturer  for  his  State ;  was  elected  Secretary- 
Treasurer  of  the  Union  Cotton  Company,  with  offices  in  New 
Orleans.  J.  W.  Boyett,  Jr.,  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  State, 
having  joined  as  a  charter  member  of  hi';  local,  and  was  elected 
President  of  one  of  the  first  locals  organized  in  his  State,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  active  in  pushing  Union  matters.  He 
has  attended  all  the  State  meetings  in  Louisiana,  and  all  the 
National  Conventions,  where  he  has  held  prominent  places  on  im- 
portant committees.    Boyett  is  a  hustler. 

BuLLARD,  J.  E.,  President  State  Union,  Belmont,  La. — Has  been 
a  prominent  leader  in  behalf  of  the  farming  class  since  1896.  He 
was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  Louisiana  State  Union  at  the 
time  of  its  organization,  which  position  he  held  for  two  years.  He 
was  elected  State  President  in  1907,  and  re-elected  in  1908.  His 
demands  for  recognition  of  the  farming  class  were  such  that  Gov- 
ernor Sanders  appointed  him  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of 
Agriculture,  which  appointment  he  declined.  His  personal  quali- 
ties make  his  friendship  very  highly  appreciated  by  those  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

BoYETT.  Jasper,  Winnfield,  La. — Was  born  January,  22,  1872; 
is  a  son  of  J.  W.  Boyett,  Sr.,  who  lives  eight  miles  east  of  Winn- 
field. His  father  is  a  successful  farmer.  Jasper  Boyett  joined 
the  Alliance  in  1880;  joined  the  Union  at  the  first  opportunity, 
and  when  the  State  was  organized  was  chosen  Assistant  State 
Organizer.  In  July,  1906,  the  State  was  divided  into  two  dis- 
tricts, and  he  was  elected  State  Organizer  for  the  northern  half 
of  Louisiana.     Tn  1907  he  was  re-elected  to  same  position.     At 


336 


MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


STATK  KXKCUTIVE  ('( ).M  M  min;,   FLORIDA   KIVISIOX. 

1.  .7.  A.  Jackson,  Chairman. 

2.   .T.   r,.   Siii:iv\i:i>.  3.    A.   L,   lirciiANAN. 

I.    Dkic   Von   Amoxsox.  .">.    W.   II.   IIavs. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  837 

the  State  Union  at  Winnfield,  in  1908,  he  was  appointed  Chair- 
man of  the  Organizing  Committee.  He  is  a  forceful  talker  and 
his  untiring-  energy  and  zealous  faith  in  the  work  made  him  win. 

Broom  FIELD,  J.  W,,  Leesville,  La. — One  of  the  most  active  men 
in  Vernon  Parish,  is  Broomfield ;  he  has  devoted  more  time  to 
the  Farmers'  Union  movement  in  his  section  than  any  other  man; 
it  is  mainly. due  to  his  efforts  that  the  warehouse  at  Leesville  was 
ever  built,  and  it  is  also  due  to  his  determination  that  it  has  suc- 
ceeded as  signally  as  it  has. 

Black,  C.  C,  Deerford,  La. — Was  one  of  the  first  Organizers 
of  his  section,  and  did  some  good  work  in  the  early  days ;  was 
on  the  State  Executive  Committee  for  one  term ;  was  a  delegate 
to  the  State  L^nion  at  all  its  meetings,  except  the  last. 

Brunley,  J.  B.,  Clyde,  La. — Has  been  organizing  for  his 
parish ;  has  assisted  in  building  a  warehouse,  and  has  done  a  lot  of 
other  work. 

Baird,  F.  T.,  Moorehouse,  La. — Ex-Vice-President  of  the 
State  Union 'and  a  big  planter. 

Culberson,  Dr.  N.  A.,  Bienville,  La. — Was  born  on  a  farm 
in  Union  Parish,  Louisiana,  in  1857.  All  the  literary  training  he 
had  was  gotten  at  a  cross-roads  schoolhouse.  At  the  age  of  ten, 
his  father  and  mother  died.  He  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  in 
1905  at  Bear  Creek ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  held 
at  Ruston  on  the  following  April.  He  was  elected  a  delegate  to 
attend  the  first  National  meeting  at  Texarkana,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  several  committees  during  that  meeting.  He  is  President 
of  the  Union  warehouse  at  Arcadia.  He  served  as  President 
Holder  local  for  one  year ;  is  Chairman  of  the  Louisiana  Trade 
Association,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

Cobb,  W.  M.,  Many,  La. — The  present  President  of  the  Parish 
Union  of  Sabine  Parish  is  W.  M.  Cobb,  a  man  who  has  done  as 
much  for  unionism  in  the  State  as  any  man  of  his  means  and 
ability.  Cobb  is  not  an  aspiring  man,  but  is  willing  to  do  whatever 
he  can  in  a  (|uiet  way.  He  has  had  associated  with  him  all  along 
that  staunch  man,  L  N.  McCollister,  and  to  them  is  due  the  many 
accomplishments  of  the  splendid  system  of  warehouses  in  that 
parish,  and  other  enterprises. 

DeLoacii,  J.  N.  W^innfield,  La. — He  is  an  example  of  the  suc- 
cessful self-made  man — of  the  man  who  fights  his  way  bravely 


338  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

and  purposefully  through  trials,  hardships,  and  difficulties  to  suc- 
cess. A\'as  born  at  Sills,  Winn  Parish,  Louisiana,  Alay,  23,  1871. 
\\'hen  he  was  only  five  his  father  moved  to  Rapides  Parish,  where 
young  DeLoach  aided  in  the  farm  work.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  one  or  two  months  in  the  summer  and  two  or  three 
months  in  the  winter  until  he  was  seventeen.  He  thus  obtained 
the  rudiments  of  an  education,  to  which  reading  and  observation 
added  to  greatly  as  he  grew  older.  In  his  young  manhood  he 
was  an  active  niember  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  and  served  as 
President  of  his  Sub-Alliance.  He  has  been  a  leader  in  school 
advancement  in  his  section,  and  through  his  efiforts  and  advocacy 
the  parish  schools  are  excellent.  He  has  always  been  keenly 
interested  in  everything  that  advanced  the  interests  of  the  farmer 
and  laborer,  and  it  was  natural  for  him  to  enlist  under  the  Union 
banner  as  soon  as  it  entered  his  section.  His  deep  interest  in,  and 
understanding  of  farming  matters  caused  his  quick  recognition. 
In  1908,  he  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Louisiana 
State  Union,  where  he  did  fine  service. 

Davis,  J.  AI.,  Crowley,  La. — Began  as  a  Local  Organizer  in  the 
early  days  of  the  Farmers'  Union  movement  in  the  State,  and  has 
organized  more  locals,  doubtless,  than  any  other  person,  save 
Freeman  DeSoto,  in  the  State,  and  when  DeSoto  resigned  as  one 
of  the  State  Organizers,  Davis  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy, 
and  to  his  efiforts  are  due  in  great  measure  the  splendid  state  of 
organization  in  Southwest  Louisiana,  known  as  the  French  sec- 
tion, at  the  State  Convention  held  at  AA'innfield  in  July,  igoS.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee  to  suc- 
ceed R.  Lee  ]\Iills.  from  that  part  of  the  State.  His  last  success 
wa';  in  organizing  the  rice  growers  into  the  Farmers'  Union. 

DkSoto,  F.,  Cottonport,  La. — The  line  of  his  work  has  been 
confined  to  organizing  and  lecturing.  He  has  traveled  more  than 
10,000  miles  in  discharging  his  duties,  and  organized  seventy-two 
local  Unions. 

Doss,  D.  C,  Hico,  La. — Joined  the  Union  in  1904,  and  was 
elected  first  President  of  his  local  Union ;  was  first  President  of 
his  District  I'nion  ;  delegate  to  the  first  State  l^nion.  and  has  done 
good  work. 

GoFF,  JosFi'H  M.,  Ivuston,  La. — =His  work  has  been  done  chiclly 
as  Lecturer ;  has  attended  all  tlie  conventions  in  his  parish,  and 
many  in  adjoining  parishes.  He  has  devoted  practically  all  his 
time  to  the  work  of  the  Union,  and  has  establislu'd  an  information 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  339 

and  census  ])ureau  for  the  collecting"  and  disscminatins^"  of  infor- 
mation relative  to  tlic  work  of  the  l^nion. 

GuiLLORY,  N.,  Jr.,  Mamon,  La. — Organizer  for  District  No.  4, 
1906.  During-  the  year,  he  organized  78  local  Unions.  He  also 
organized  three  warehouses.  During  this  time  he  traveled  sev- 
eral thousand  miles  anrl  made  many  speeches.  He  did  good  work 
for  the  Union. 

Holmes,  Va  d.  L.  N.,  ex-State  President,  and  ex-National  Chap- 
Iain  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  Bernice,  La. — The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  Eld.  L.  N.  Holmes,  resides  on  his  farm  near  Bernice,  La. 
He  is  the  son  of  H.  W.  Holmes,  Sr.,  who  moved  from  the  State  of 
Alabama  to  Louisiana  in  1855,  when  Eld.  L.  N.  Holmes  was  born 
on  the  25th  day  of  June,  1856.  His  father  early  enlisted  in  the 
Confederate  army,  leaving  the  subject*  of  this  sketch  to  the  care 
of  his  mother  and  older  brothers.  His  mother  died  in  1862,  when 
young  Holmes  w^ent  to  live  with  his  aunt.  The  boyhood  days  of 
young  Holmes,  w'hen  he  ought  to  have  been  in  school,  were  spent 
on  a  farm,  owing  to  the  fact  that  there  was  no  school  for  him  to 
attend,  the  Civil  War  having  disorganized  society  and  broken 
up  the  schools  of  his  State.  He,  however,  attended  a  country 
school  for  a  few  months  during  winter;  the  balance  of  his  educa- 
tion was  secured  by  study  at  night  b}-  the  light  of  a  pine  knot  fire. 
He  with  fifty  of  his  neighbors  organized  a  Farmers'  Club  in  Lin- 
coln Parish.  This  organization  was  later  merged  with  the  Farm- 
ers' Alliance,  and  L.  N.  Holmes  became  an  active  organizer  in  the 
Alliance.  In  1904  he  joined  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  was  one 
of  the  moving  spirits  in  the  promotion  of  the  work  in  his  State. 
April  4,  1905,  he  was  elected  the  first  State  President  of  Louis- 
iana. He  was  also  elected  National  Chaplain  at  the  formation  of 
the  National  Union  at  Texarkana,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
until  the  Fort  Worth  meeting  in  1908.  He  has  been  an  ardent 
admirer  and  is  a  persistent  supporter  of  the  Union  cause  ever  since 
its  introduction.    He  is  a  strong  and  faithful  member  and  officer. 

Hancock,  J.  T.  M.,  Ruston,  La. — Has  been  prominently  asso- 
ciated with  the  movement  in  his  parish  all  along,  having  been 
warehouse  manager  for  the  Ruston  Warehouse  Company  since  its 
organization.  Hancock  has  been  in  all  the  annual  meetings  of  the 
State  Union,  and  has  rendered  good  service  to  the  membership 
as  a  whole,  as  well  as  to  his  immediate  section.  He  served  one 
term  on  the  State  Board.  He  is  another  model  farmer,  having  one 
of  the  prettiest  farms  in  his  parish. 


340 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


STATE  OFFICIALS,  MISSOURI  DIVISION. 

1.  N.  H.  SuMMiTT,  President  State  Union. 
2.  Jon.N  .\.  Mii,m;h,  Vice  I'residenr.  3.  .7.  W.  Shaw,  State  Organizer. 

4.  J.    E.    Kui.KEHSON,    Stnte    Huslness    Agent. 

5.  L.    K.    Llthy,    State    Secretary-Treasurer. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  34rl 

Hester,  Q.  A.,  Calhoun,  I. a. — A  school  teacher  who  has  been 
prominently  associated  with  the  F.  E,  &  C.  U.  of  A.  in  his  section, 
havino^  done  or^anizinG^  work  as  a  Local  Orsanzer,  when  he  could 
spare  the  time  from  his  school  duties.  He  has  served  his  parish 
in  the  State  convention  a  number  of  times,  and  also  represented 
the  State  in  the  National  Union  at  Memphis,  Tenn. 

Hilburn,  W.  W.,  New  Orleans,  La. — Has  been  connected  with 
the  Louisiana  State  Union  for  more  than  two  years ;  was  assistant 
to  Mr.  Boyett  for  one  year,  and  has  been  in  the  office  since  Mr. 
DeLoach  was  elected;  joined  the  Union  about  two -years  ago,  and 
has  been  active  in  the  work. 

Jones,  W.  S.,  M.  D.,  Jonesboro,  La. — Was  born  in  Louisiana 
in  1861 ;  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  State, 
and  later  studied  medicine  and  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.  con- 
ferred upon  him  in  1886;  was  raised  on  the  farm,  and  has  farmed 
in  connection  with  his  practice ;  joined  the  Union  in  1906,  and 
has  taken  an  active  part  ever  since;  has  represented  his  people 
at  State  and  National  meetings.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Execuive  Committee. 

Kelly,  C.  R.,  Duback,  La. — Was  born  in  Union  Parish,  Louis- 
iana, February,  1876;  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
county  and  has  farmed  all  his  life.  During  the  last  days  of  the 
Alliance,  he  became  identified  with  that  noble  order,  remaining 
in  same  till  its  final  dissolution.  Early  in  the  life  of  the  L'nion, 
he  became  a  member,  and  was  immediately  elected  Lecturer  of  his 
local,  serving  since  that  time  in  that  position ;  also  as  local  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer of  the  Executive  Committee  for  the  local ;  Secre- 
tary to  the  Duback  District  Union ;  secretary  warehouse  company ; 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  for  warehouse ;  President  of  the 
parish  Union ;  Chairman  Parish  Executive  Committee,  and  at 
present  Lecturer  of  the  parish.  Two  and  one-half  years  ago  was 
elected  on  the  Executive  Committee  for  the  State  Union,  serv- 
ing since  then  continuously,  being  secretary  to  the  committee  for 
past  year  and  a  half. 

Kennedy,  R.  B.,  Winnfield,  La. — Has  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  movement  in  his  parish  from  the  very  earliest  his- 
tory of  the  organization  in  Winnfield  Parish,  and  one  who  has 
worked  harder  and  did  more  to  make  the  State  central  warehouse 
a  success  than  any  other  man  in  the  State,  having  devoted  his 
personal  time  and  attention  to  this  undertaking,  to  the  detriment 
of  his  personal  affairs.    He  was  one  of  the  first  Board  of  Directors 


342  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

and  has  been  retained  on  the  board  continuously  since  its  organiza- 
tion. He  served  as  President  for  one  term,  and  was  arranging 
to  open  the  warehouse  up  and  run  same  with  his  own  capital,  when 
it  burned. 

Kleinpeter,  J.  B.,  Baker,  La. — Did  some  local  organizing  in 
East  Baton  Rouge  Parish  during  the  early  days  of  the  organiza- 
tion, and  represented  his  parish  in  the  State  Convention  held  at 
Baton  Rouge  in  1907,  and  at  this  meeting  he  was  chosen  as  a 
delegate  to  the  National  Convention  held  at  Memphis,  Tenn. 
Kleinpeter  is  one  of  the  best  posted  sugar  men  of  Louisiana ;  has 
held  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 

Kling,  a,  a.,  Donaldsonville,  La. — Born  in  Ascension  Parish 
in  i860,  and  was  educated  in  the  parish  schools.  When  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  bought  a  farm,  which  he  has  farmed  practically 
ever  since.  Was  a  charter  member  of  the  Dutch  Town  Local 
Union,  and  is  now  Lecturer.  Organized  the  Farmers'  Union  Gin- 
ning Company,  which  has  been  very  successful.  Has  served  as 
deputy  shq,riff  and  parish  treasurer.  In  1908  was  elected  assessor 
of  the  parish.     Is  a  loyal  L^nion  man. 

McCollister,  1.  N.,  Member  National  Board  of  Directors, 
Many,  La. — Was  born  in  Sabine  Parish,  Louisiana,  1854.  Young 
McCollister  had  a  hard  struggle  with  the  world,  his  father  dying, 
and  the  support  of  the  family  fell  to  him.  He  was  then  but  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  but  he  faithfully  provided  for  them.  His  edu- 
cational advantages  were  very  limited,  but  he  studied  and  im- 
proved every  opportunity.  He  joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance  in 
1889,  and  1891  was  elected  manager  of  an  /Vlliance  store  in  his 
parish.  He  served  the  Alliance  as  Parish  Secretary,  and  later 
as  President.  He  joined  the  Farmers'  LTnion  upon  its  advent  into 
his  community  as  a  charter  member.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee  since  the  organization  of  the  State 
Union,  and  for  some  time  has  been  chairman  of  that  committee. 
He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  National  Board  of  Directors  at 
the  first  Texarkana  meeting,  1905,  and  was  re-elected  at  Tex- 
arkana,  1906,  Little  Rock  1907,  and  Forth  Worth  1908.  As  a 
member  of  the  National  Board  he  has  done  effective  work  for  the 
Union,  and  has  won  the  esteem  of  all  his  co-laborers  by  the  way 
in  which  he  has  done  that  work.  Served  one  year  as  State  Busi- 
ness Agent.  Is  manager  of  the  Farmers'  Union  warehouse  at 
Maney. 

Mills,  R.  Lee,  Opelousas,  La. — Was  born  at  Armandville,  La., 
December  5,  1870,  and  joinerl  the  Farmers'  Alliance  at  the  age  of 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  343 

eighteen.  Was  a  cliarter  mcmljcr  of  his  local  Fanners'  L'nion, 
and  served  as  its  President.  Was  elected  Parish  President,  which 
place  he  now  holds.  At  the  State  Convention  in  1907  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  and  in  1908  State 
V^Jce-President ;  has  aided  in  organizini";  many  kjcals. 

-McCoLLiSTER,  B.  C,  Rattan,  La. — Was  a  charter  member  of 
his  local,  and  has  done  good  work ;  has  made  many  speeches  in  the 
interest  of  the  Union,  and  has  traveled  thousands  of  miles  horse- 
back in  the  work.  Was  a  member  of  the  Parish  Executive  Com- 
mittee two  years,  and  served  two  years  as  Vice-President  of  his 
local,  and  has  served  it  as  Lecturer. 

McCoLLiSTER,  J.  J.,  Olla,  La. — Joined  the  Union  1904;  has 
served  as  President  of  his  Parish  Union ;  was  Business  Manager 
of  the  warehouse ;  has  been  a  hard  worker  in  the  Linion  cause  ever 
since  he  joined  the  organization. 

Peters,  W.  S.,  Tannehill,  La. — Has  been  an  active  member  of 
the  organization  since  its  earliest  days,  and  has  especially  been 
active  in  his  parish,  attending  all  meetings  of  his  local  and  parish. 
He  knew  what  was  going  on  locally,  and  to  his  credit  is 
due  in  large  measure  the  success  of  his  local  parish.  Brother 
Peters  is  another  of  the  few  men  who  have  succeeded  as  farmers 
by  raising  a  living  at  home  and  letting  his  cotton  be  surplus. 
He  has  never  held  a  State  position,  and  has  never  sought  any 
position  whatever.  He  was  one  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
State  Central  Warehouse  at  the  time  the  concern  w-as  dissolved. 

Smart^  M.  W.,  Leesville,  La. — Has  devoted  a  good  part  of  his 
life  working  in  the  interest  of  the  farmer.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Grange  and  Alliance,  and  joined  the  Union  soon  after  it  was 
started  in  his  parish ;  has  been  President  of  his  local  three  years, 
and  President  of  the  Parish  Union  two  years.  He  is  now  Lec- 
turer and  Organizer  for  his  parish ;  has  served  two  years  as 
President  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  parish  warehouse ;  at- 
tended as  a  delegate  the  meetings  held  in  Memphis  and  New^  Or- 
leans, and  a  delegate  to  the  State  meeting  at  Baton  Rouge.  He 
has  been  a  faithful  attendant  upon  all  L^nion  meetings. 

Seever,  John  j\I.,  Fisher,  La. — Has  been  President  of  the  Dis- 
trict Union  two  years ;  Vice-President  of  his  Parish  Union  one 
year,  and  president  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  warehouse 
at  Many  since  its  organization ;  was  delegate  to  Topeka.  Kan. ; 
delegate  to  the  State  Union,  1907,  and  delegate  to  New  Orleans, 
1908 ;  has  done  all  that  he  could  to  aid  the  I'nion. 


344 


.MISSION'.    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


STATE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE,  MISSOURI  DIVISION. 
1.  J.  F.  Baker.  2.  C.  M.  QoocH.  3.  M.  B.  Peters. 

4.    W.   B.   YOl'NT.  5.    R.   M.   RUBOTTOM. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  345 

ViERs,  John  W.,  Grangeville,  La. — Has  served  as  President  of 
his  local  Union,  and  as  President  of  his  Parish  Union.  As  Parish 
President,  lie  was  by  virtue  of  his  office  Organizer  within  the 
parish. 

Whatley,  Miss  Louise,  Eden,  La. — Miss  Whatley  joined  the 
Union  in  1906;  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer  soon  after  join- 
ing; has  made  eight  public  addresses  in  behalf  of  the  Union;  won 
one  of  the  trips  to  Fort  Worth  Convention  offered  by  the  Union 
Banner,  in  1908.  At  Fort  Worth  she  made  a  splendid  address. 
She  has  been  a  good,  strong  worker  for  the  Union. 

Waller,  Miss  Julia,  Forest,  La. — She  is  a  faithful  worker  for 
the  Union,  having  written  several  letters  for  the  press  upon  the 
good  of  the  order,  thus  encouraging  others  to  join.  In  1908,  she 
won  a  trip  to  the  National  Convention  at  Fort  Worth. 

Williams,  S.  T.,  Grand  Cane,  La. — First  State  Organizer. 

Alford,  G.  H.,  Magnolia,  Miss. — Has  made  fifty  or  more 
speeches  and  has  traveled  hundreds  of  miles.  Most  of  the  work 
he  has  done  has  been  writing  for  the  press.  He  represented  his 
State  before  the  Agricultural  Committee  of  Congress,  1909.  He 
is  a  worker.    Member  of  Mississippi  Legislature. 

Bass,  J.  M.,  .Vice-President  State  Union,  Hazlehurst,  Miss. — 
An  active  and  aggressive  defender  of  the  Union  principles,  and 
of  the  warehouse  system  in  his  State ;  was  born  in  Lawrence 
County  September  16,  1862.  He  attended  school  for  only  a  short 
while ;  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church ;  was  a  member  of  the 
Alliance ;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  at  the  first  opportunity.  He 
is  a  prominent  leader  in  his  State,  and  is  identified  with  several 
secret  orders.  When  the  State  LTnion  was  organized,  J.  M.  Bass 
was  elected  President,  and  served  two  terms.  He  has  been  an 
active  supporter  of  the  Union  in  his  State,  and  is  still  in  the  har- 
ness, working  away  with  a  will.  At  the  last  State  Convention, 
January,  1909,  he  was  elected  to  the  place  of  Vice-President,  in 
which  capacity  he  wall  devote  his  time  and  energies  to  the  Union 
movement  in  Mississippi,  as  he  had  done  ever  since  the  LTnion  was 
introduced  into  his  State.  He  is  faithful,  painstaking,  and  con- 
servative. His  work  has  been  done  in  a  satisfactory  manner,  for 
which  he  deserves  all  the  credit  due  him.  Under  his  administra- 
tion, the  warehouse  idea  took  definite  shape  in  iSIississippi,  and 
many  warehouses  were  built  while  he  was  State  President.  He 
has  done  much  for  the  Union  in  his  State ;  has  been  delegate  to 
l^ational  Conventions.     He  is  a  prosperous  farmer. 


346  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Bk/vdshaw,  H.  W.,  elected  State  Lecturer  of  Mississippi  two 
or  three  years  ago,  Pelahatchie,  Miss. — Has  organized  about  75 
locals ;  made  500  speeches ;  traveled  about  36,000  miles.  He  is  a 
man  of  steadfast  faith  and  undaunted  courage;  has  filled  many 
positions  of  trust  and  confidence ;  has  been  a  delegate  to  nearly  all, 
if  not  all,  his  State  conventions,  and  has  been  delegate  to  National 
Conventions.  Bradshaw  is  a  strong  believer  in  education,  and  if  he 
could  have  his  way,  the  farmers  of  this  country  would  be  educated 
business  people.  He  thinks  a  brighter  day  is  dawning  for  the 
American  farmer.  He  believes  he  will 'get  more  out  of  this  life 
than  John  D.  Rockefeller  will. 

Brown,  M.,  A.,  Yazoo  City,  Miss. — Was  formerly  a  member 
of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  and  a  director  of  the  Farmers' 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  his  State.  He  began  his  work 
for  the  Union  in  1904,  since  which  time  he  has  organized  about 
150  Unions.  He  has  been  delegate  to  both  State  and  National 
Conventions.  While  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  he 
served  as  State  Lecturer,  and  was  one  of  the  members  of  the 
Legislative  Committee;  has  been  President  of  the  Advocate  Pub- 
lishing Company. 

Bl.\keslee,  H.  E.,  Jackson,  Miss. — Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture for  the  State  of  Mississippi ;  for  awhile  editor  and  manager 
Union  Advocate;  has  never  held  any  office  in  the  Union,  but  has 
done  much  to  build  up  the  L^nion. 

Boatwright,  J.  W.,  Waits,  Miss. — Delegate  to  his  State  meet- 
ing, 1908,  and  delegate  to  National  Convention,  1908;  has  done 
lecturing  and  organizing;  traveled  thousands  of  miles  and  deliv- 
ered lectures  in  different  parts  of  his  State  and  initiated  hundreds 
into  the  order;  is  one  of  the  District  Lecturers. 

CoGGiNS,  J.  L.,  Blue  Springs,  Miss. — Joined  the  Union  at 
Limestone  Local,  in  November,  1905 ;  was  elected  delegate  to 
county  meeting  at  Tupelo ;  was  commissioned  Organizer  by  G. 
W.  Fant,  of  Texas ;  has  organized  in  nine  counties,  having  organ- 
ized 65  locals ;  made  about  200  speeches  and  traveled  2,000  miles ; 
has  faced  many  hardships. 

Cheatham,  H.  J.,  Philadelphia,  Miss. — Was  born  in  Louisiana 
in  1852.  Has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  helping  to  better 
the  condition  of  the  farmer.  During  the  reign  of  the  Alliance  was 
Parish  Secretary,  and  twice  delegate  to  Louisiana  State  Alliance, 
and  a  delegate  to  the  Anti-Lottery   Convention   held   at   Baton 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  347 

Rouge;  joined  the  Union  at  its  organization  in  his  county,  and 
has  done  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  cause. 

Collins,  J.  L.,  Jackson,  Miss. — State  Business  Agent  of  the 
Farmers'  L'nion  of  Mississippi ;  was  born  November,  1839,  ^^^  ^^^^ 
County  of  Pontotoc,  State  of  Mississippi;  raised  on  a  farm;  re- 
ceived such  an  education  as  the  antebellum  log  cabin  school  houses 
afforded.  At  his  maturity,  in  1861,  he  volunteered  in  the  first 
company  that  was  raised  at  CofTeeville.  His  company  was  one  of 
the  ten  that  was  organized  into  the  Fifteenth  Mississippi  Infantry. 
This  regiment  distinguished  itself  at  the  battle  of  Fishing  Creek, 
Ky.,  wlicre  Gen.  Zollicoffer  was  sacrificed ;  next  at  the  battle  of 
Shiloh ;  here  Capt.  Collins  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  adjutant 
general's  office,  John  C.  Breckenridge,  and  on  account  of  efficient 
and  gallant  service  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  A.  D.  C. 
Capt.  Collins  surrendered  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  returned  home,  and 
set  about  upon  his  father's  old  plantation  in  Calhoun  County, 
Mississippi,  to  recuperate  the  lost  fortune  incident  to  war.  Since 
the  war  he  has  made  himself  eminently  useful  in  many  depart- 
ments of  life,  but  has  never  relinquished  his  farming  interests,  and 
at  present  this  is  his  main  vocation.  In  1881,  Capt.  Collins  was 
called  upon  to  take  up  the  Democratic  banner,  which  for  several 
years  had  been  trailing  in  the  dust  under  the  scalawag  regime.  He 
made  a  vigorous  canvass  and  on  account  of  his  personal  popularity 
and  conservatism,  was  elected  to  represent  two  counties  in  the 
legislature  of  1882.  Following  this,  he  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
office  of  special  land  agent  in  the  United  States  Interior  Depart- 
ment, and  was  assigned  to  duty  in  California.  In  this  position,  he 
was  highly  complimented  for  his  efficient  service  by  Gen.  Sparks, 
who  was  land  commissioner  at  that  time.  Closing  his  term  of 
office,  he  returned  home,  and  has  been  steadily  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Although  in  the  sear  leaf  of  life  now,  yet  he  is  quick  and 
active  as  many  much  younger  men.  There  is  one  characteristic 
about  him  well  known  that  whatever  he  attempts  to  do  is  well  and 
faithfully  done.  He  has  filled  in  the  Union  several  positions  of 
honor  and  lias  proven  his  loyalty  to  the  cause. 

Curd,  C.  H.,  Holly  Springs,  Miss. — Editor  and  member  of 
Legislature ;  delegate  to  State  Convention ;  served  on  important 
committee ;  has  done  a  great  deal  of  good  through  his  paper  for 
the  Union. 

Carter,  J.  W.,  P.entley,  Miss. — Member  of  the  State  Executive 
Committee ;  largely  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  warehouse  at 
Calhoun  Citv. 


3-i8  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

Button,  James,  Dewey,  Miss. — Has  been  in  the  field  as  Organ- 
izer and  Lecturer  for  five  years,  and  during  that  time  has  organ- 
ized 300  local  Unions  and  made  more  than  1,000  speeches.  His 
organizing-  work  has  been  carried  on  in  three  States ;  has  been 
faithful,  and  is  still  in  the  fight. 

Edens,  B.  N.,  Aljerdeen,  Miss. — Was  elected  District  Lecturer, 
1908,  and  traveled  through  his  district,  where  he  organized  some 
local  Unions  and  revived  several  defunct  ones. 

Hightower,  George  Robert,  President  Mississippi  Division, 
Oxford,  Miss. — Was  born  at  Smith's  Mill,  Grenada  County, 
Miss.,  October  15,  1865.  His  ancestors  were  Virginians,  William 
Hightower  and  Jesse  Dawson  were  revolutionary  soldiers  in  the 
Continental  Army  of  Virginia.  George  Hightower,  the  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  Confederate  soldier.  Young 
Hightower  attended  the  public  schools  of  Grenada  County,  and 
later  the  Buena  Vista  Normal  College,  in  Chickasaw  County,  from 
Avhich  he  graduated  in  1889.  He  established  the  Abbeville  Normal 
College  in  tlie  fall  after  he  graduated,  and  in  1890  was  professor 
of  mathematics  in  the  Grenada  Collegiate  Institute.  He  gave  up 
teaching  because  of  failing  health,  and  took  up  the  occupation  of 
farming  and  stock  raising.  In  1895  he  was  elected  Superintend- 
ent of  Education  of  Lafayette  County,  and  in  1899  he  was  elected 
representative  from  his  county.  November,  1903,  he  was  elected 
State  Senator  from  the  Thirty-second  District,  and  was  re-elected 
in  1907.  He  was  elected  President  of  the  Farmers'  Union  of  the 
State  of  Mississippi  at  the  January  meeting  in  1908,  and  resigned 
as  State  Senator  to  accept  the  place ;  he  was  re-elected  State  Prest 
dent  January,  1909.  As  President  he  is  most  energetic  in  devising 
business  plans.  Mississippi  is  building  new  warehouses  and  other- 
wise making  progress  under  his  administration.  He  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  last  National  Convention ;  is  a  prominent  secret  order 
man,  belonging  to  the  Masons,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Wood- 
men of  the  World.  It  is  said  that  he  made  one  of  the  best 
County  Superintendents  of  Public  Instruction  in  the  State  of 
Mississippi.  He  began  in  the  fall  of  1908  to  lay  plans  for  the  con- 
solidation of  all  the  Mississippi  warehouses  under  one  charter. 
The  company  thus  organized  to  be  known  as  the  Farmers'  Ware- 
house Company  of  I\Tississippi.  The  organization  has  now  been 
perfected,  and  agents  are  in  the  field  placing  the  stock. 

Haynie,  Capt.  Tom  S.,  Jackson,  Miss. — Was  born  in  Tuscum- 
bia,  Ala.,  August,  1835,  and  is  in  his  seventy-fourth  year.  He 
served  during  the  Civil  War  in  Company  H,  Fifth  Texas  Regu- 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  349 

lars  (Hood's  Brigade).  He  joined  the  I'arnicrs'  I'nion  three 
years  since,  and  has  been  fighting-  in  its  ranks  ever  since.  He 
says  he  expects  to  s"ive  the  remainder  of  his  Hfe  to  the  service  of 
the  Farmers'  Union. 

H.\RVEY,  J.  M.,  Meridian,  jVIiss. — Member  State  Executive 
Committee;  joined  the  Union  in  April,  1907;  in  June  was  sent  as 
a  delef^ate  to  the  County  Union,  at  which  time  the  warehouse 
question  came  up,  and  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee to  investigate,  and  made  its  chairman.  The  warehouse 
company  was  organized,  stock  subscribed,  and  the  building  put  up. 
Has  done  excellent  work  for  the  Union,  and  stands  ready  at  all 
tinies  to  work  for  its  interests. 

Herington,  Orange,  Ellisville,  Miss. — Joined  the  Union  upon 
its  advent  into  Mississippi ;  has  supported  its  principles  as  editor 
of  one  or  two  papers ;  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of  his 
County  Union,  1906,  and  has  been  re-elected  at  every  meeting  held 
since.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  and  a 
worker. 

Hearn^  D.  R.,  Canton,  Miss. — County  President  of  Madison 
County ;  has  done  as  much  as  any  man  in  his  section  to  build  up 
the  Union. 

Johnson,  T.  J.,  Baldwyn,  Miss. — Ex-State  Executive  Commit- 
teeman ;  has  traveled  and  worked  for  the  Union  as  Lecturer ;  has 
served  as  President  of  his  local ;  was  delegate  to  last  National  Con- 
vention, where  he  served  on  important  committees. 

Jones,  J.  L..  McComb  City,  Miss. — Member  of  the.  State  Ex- 
ecutive Committee.  A  splendid  business  man  and  a  faith fu/ 
worker. 

KoLB,  W.  H.,  Aberdeen,  Miss. — Was  born  in  1862,  Alonroe 
County,  Mississippi;  has  been  a  member  of  the  Union  for  more 
than  two  years,  and  has  been  an  ardent  worker  for  the  cause ; 
has  attended  all  county  meetings  as  a  delegate  since  joining; 
served  as  President  of  his  county,  and  is  Chairman  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee. 

Kyle,  T.  F.,  Pontotoc,  Miss. — Ex-Vice- President  of  State 
Union ;  served  two  terms ;  President  of  Pontotoc  for  four  years ; 
a  good  lecturer  and  a  loyal  member. 

Lindsay,  J.  L.,  Greenville,  Miss. — L^pon  his  return  from  school 
he  joined  the  Union  and  was  immediately  elected  a  District  Lee- 


350 


MISSIOX,   HISTORY   AND  TIMES 


STATE  OFFICIALS,  WASIIIN(;T()\  DIVISION. 

I..   C.  ("Kow,  W.-islilnsloii,   I'i-i»si(l('iil    Stjitc   I'liiipn. 
}'.  W.  ("ox,  WasliiiiKliin.  Mciiilici-  SImIp  lOxi'ciil  i\i'  <  n 
J.  >r.  UiMi).  WashiiiKl"".  Mcinln'r  Sliilo  lOxcciii  ivc  (d 
Mii,A.\   SriM,,  WMsliiiislDii.   Vico-l'if'sidiMit. 
U.  .7.  Day,  Idaho,  Mcinl)pr  Stnto  ICxt'culivc  Ciuniniiii 


lllllllt  tCG. 
llllllil  |('(\ 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  351 

turcr  for  a  part  of  Mississippi,  'i'lic  Lecturers'  Bureau  was  dis- 
continued August,  1908,  l)ut  he  was  so  enthusiastic  that  he  con- 
tinued tlie  work. 

Linker,  F.  L.,  Oxford,  Miss.- — The  most  of  his  work  has  been 
done  in  raising  stock  for  LTnion  warehouses,  and  in  tliis  connection 
has  traveled  about  i,ooo  miles.  He  has  been  successful  in  push- 
ing- the  warehouse  movement. 

Myers,  A.  W..  Brookhaven,  Miss. — Has  been  in  the  field  for 
five  years  and  eight  months,  and  has  made  a  success  of  his  work. 
A  good  part  of  his  time  has  been  spent  in  lecturing;  has  organized 
in  Arkansas  and  in  Mississippi;  has  organized  261  local  and 
County  L'^nions,  and  traveled  about  30,000  miles. 

MoTT,  N.  A.,  Yazoo  City,  Miss. — He  has  done  work  for  the 
Union,  but  it  has  been  principally  along  insurance  lines.  He  is 
Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
panv  of  Mississippi.    Lie  is  Secretary  of  his  County  Union. 

Netternili  E,  C.  W'oodville.  ]\liss. — Has  been  a  member  of 
the  Grange  and  a  strong  supporter  of  farmers'  organizations.  He 
joined  the  L^nion  upon  its  introduction  into  his  State,  and  was 
made  President  of  his  County  Union  when  it  was  organized,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  His  work  has  been  done  principally 
through  articles  which  he  has  written  to  the  National  Co-Operator 
and  the  .Idvocate. 

Pate,  E.  L.,  Calhoun  City,  Miss. — Manager  of  Union  ware- 
house at  Calhoun  City,  Miss. ;  has  done  work  in  the  Union  as  Or- 
ganizer, and  has  made  a  number  of  speeches. 

Palmer,  Thomas  Rufus,  Greenwood  Springs,  Miss. — Ex- 
Vice-President  of  the  Mississippi  Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union  ; 
was  born  July,  1878,  and  joined  the  Union  in  August,  1905,  at 
Pleasant  Ridge,  in  his  State,  and  was  elected  President  of  same 
and  served  two  years.  He  w-as  the  first  one  to  give  his  name  to 
the  Organizer,  W.  .\.  Morris,  at  the  time.  He  was  active  as  an 
Organizer  till  elected  AHce-President  of  Mississippi,  1908.  He 
has  served  two  terms  as  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

Ql'INN,  W.  T.,  Mississippi. — Lecturer;  is  editor  of  the  Nishoba 
County  Democrat.  A  forcible  speaker  and  valuable  member  of 
the  L^nion. 

Quick,  J.  A.,  Hattiesburg,  Miss. — County  President ;  good  lec- 
turer. 


352  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Russell^  G.  W.,  Hazlehurst,  Miss. — Secretary-Treasurer  Mis- 
sissippi State  Union ;  was  born  in  Lawrence  County,  Mississippi, 
October  14,  1879.  but  moved  to  Copiah  County  when  a  youth, 
where  he  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  became  a  model  farmer  and  good 
citizen.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  county,  and  when 
a  young  man  received  a  collegiate  education,  and  upon  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Farmers'  Union  into  Copiah  County,  he  joined  as 
a  charter  member  of  the  local,  and  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer 
of  his  local.  He  was  delegate  to  the  first  State  Union,  at  which 
time  he  was  elected  State  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  has  succeeded 
himself  at  every  meeting  since.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Farmers'  Union  Cotton  Company  of  Memphis. 
He  has  held  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  and  has  proved 
himself  ready  and  willing  to  do  anything  in  his  power  to  advance 
the  farming  interest.  Russell  launched  the  Mississippi  Union  Ad- 
vocate in  1906;  has  been  delegate  to  National  Conventions.  An 
energetic,  progressive  young  man. 

Russell,  Mrs.  George  W.,  Hazlehurst,  Miss. — Delegate  to 
the  last  National  Convention,  and  wife  of  the  present  Secretary- 
Treasurer  of  Mississippi. 

Shoemake,  S.  a.,  Collins,  Miss. — Ex-Member  of  State  Execu- 
tive Committee.  Was  a  member  of  board  for  one  term,  and  secre- 
tary of  board. 

Wilson,  Rev.  Robert  Andrew  Neal,  Batesville,  Miss. — Was 
born  in  Hardin  County,  Tennessee,  August  26,  1865 ;  raised  on 
a  farm  in  McNairy  County  Tennessee;  educated  in  the  common 
school  of  McNairy  County,  Bethel  College,  McKenzie,  Tenn.,  and 
Cumberland  University,  Lebanon,  Tenn. ;  entered  the  ministry 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  1888;  served  the 
church  as  pastor  in  Batesville,  Miss.,  two  years;  Milan,  Tenn., 
nearly  three  years ;  Hubbard  City,  Texas,  two  years ;  Pueblo,  Col., 
eight  years,  and  three  years  ago  came  back  to  Batesville ;  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jessie  Lester,  January  5,  1892.  While  in  Colorado, 
took  deep  interest  in  prohibition  politics;  in  1902  made  the  race 
for  Governor.  Since  coming  back  to  Mississippi,  in  addition  to 
regular  pastoral  work,  he  has  been  interested  in  the  Farmers' 
Union  movement;  has  been  County  Lecturer  for  Panola  County; 
District  Lecturer  for  State,  and  made  a  tour  of  the  State  last  year 
with  President  Hightower;  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Con- 
vention in  Fort  Worth  in  1908,  and  served  on  the  Constitutional 
Committee ;  v/as  sent  by  his  county  as  delegate  to  the  conference  in 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  353 

New  Orleans,  and  was  one  of  the  speakers  at  the  open  meeting 
on  the  conference.  He  is  now  State  Chaplain  for  Mississippi. 
Wilson  is  an  able  man  and  an  orator ;  recently  elected  to  next  Na- 
tional Convention.    Wilson  has  done  a  great  deal  of  good  work. 

Wilson,  S.  L.,  Van  Vleet,  Miss. — Member  of  the  National 
Board  of  Directors ;  was  born  in  South  Carolina  and  removed  with 
his  parents  to  the  State  of  Alississippi  in  1846.  His  parents  pro- 
cured a  farm  upon  which  he  still  lives.  During  the  war  he  was  a 
member  of  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  saw  four  years 
of  service.  S.  L.  Wilson  was  a  member  of  the  Alliance,  and  is 
now  master  of  the  State  Grange  of  Mississippi.  He  is  a  Mason, 
an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  When  the  Farmers' 
Union  was  organized  in  his  State,  feeling  an  interest  in  the  move- 
ment, he  joined,  and  soon  became  prominently  identified  with  the 
movement.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  National  Board  of 
Directors  at  the  Little  Rock  Convention  in  1907,  and  again  elected 
at  the  Fort  Worth  meeting  in  1908.  Ex-Member  of  Legislature. 
He  is  faithful  to  every  trust. 

Ward,  B.  F.,  Jr.,  Winona,  Miss. — Ex-editor  of  paper  at  his 
home  town,  and  recently  elected  by  the  State  Executive  Commit- 
tee editor  and  manager  of  the  official  organ  of  the  State  of  Mis- 
sissippi. A  good  lecturer  and  loyal  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Union.  Ex-Sergeant-at-Arms  of  the  Mississippi  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives. The  Farmers'  Union  of  Mississippi,  through  its 
Executive  Committee,  has  just  completed  arrangements  for  pub- 
lishing an  official  organ  for  State  organization.  The  dues  were 
raised  for  the  purpose  of  sending  this  paper  free  to  all  members 
of  the  order  in  the  State,  and  hereafter  the  paper  will  be  furnished 
free  to  every  member  of  the  Union. 

Wood,  Walker,  Senatobia,  Miss. — Editor  of  local  newspaper, 
and  has  done  much  good  for  the  Union  through  its  columns ;  dele- 
gate to  tlie  last  State  Convention. 

Wilson,  Miss,  Van  Vleet,  Miss. — Daughter  of  S.  L.  Wilson. 
She  attended  the  last  State  Convention  of  the  Mississippi  State 
Union,  and  was  elected  delegate  to  the.  National  Convention. 

Wax,  William  T.,  Amory,  Miss. — Joined  the  Farmers'  Union 
in  the  summer  of  1906  as  a  charter  member  of  his  local ;  assisted 
in  organizing  a  warehouse  in  his  county,  and  was  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Directors  at  the  time.  As  president  of  this 
board,  he  has  done  splendid  work. 

23 


354  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

MISSOURI. 

Baker,  F.  J.,  Rich  Hill,  Mo. — Alember  of  State  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

Bowers,  J.  M.,  Missouri. — Delegate  to  last  National  Conven- 
tion, and  member  of  important  committee,  where  he  did  good 
work. 

Douglas,  T.  J.,  Alissouri. — Delegate  to  last  National  Conven- 
tion, and  served  on  important  committee,  and  did  faithful  work. 

Fulkerson,  J.  E.,  State  Business  Agent,  Lebanon,  Mo. — Was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Grundy  County,  Missouri.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  of  his  section.  At  26,  took  a  business  course,  and 
became  bookkeeper  at  Trenton.  He  later  became  assistant  cashier 
and  bookkeeper  for  the  First  National  Bank  of  that  place;  has 
been  a  traveling  salesman ;  engaged  in  the  shoe  business ;  in  the 
real  estate  business,  and  manager  of  a  water  and  light  plant.  He 
returned  to  the  farm ;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  and  was  elected 
County  Business  Agent,  October,  1907;  was  elected  State  Business 
Agent,  August  13,  1908.    He  is  a  hard  worker. 

Fisher,  W.  W.,  Missouri. — Ex-State  Organizer;  has  attended 
several  State  and  National  Conventions,  and  has  served  on  im- 
portant committees. 

GoocH,  C.  M.,  LaPlata,  Mo., — Is  62  years  of  age ;  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grange  and  the  Farmers'  Alliance;  joined  the  Farmers' 
Union,  and  was  elected  President  of  his  county  local,  and  still  holds 
that  office.  Was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  when  the  Mis- 
souri Union  was  formed,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee.  In  1908  was  re-elected  to  the  committee,  being 
made  its  chairman.  Is  organizer  for  the  northern  part  of  the 
State,  and  gives  practically  all  of  his  time  to  the  work. 

LuTi-iY,  L.  F.,  Secretary-Treasurer,  Lebanon,  Mo. — Was  born 
of  Virginia  parentage  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  January  29,  1848,  and 
from  his  sixth  to  his  fourteenth  year  he  attended  the  public  schools 
of  that  city.  He  attended  the  city  university  for  two  years,  then 
the  University  of  Missouri  for  one  year.  He  taught  school  for  a 
short  time,  and  on  his  twenty-first  birthday  entered  into  a  partner- 
ship with  his  father  in  the  lumber  business.  At  the  age  of  29  he 
purchased  a  farm  and  moved  to  the  country.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  and  was  in  charge  of  the 
Missouri  Agricultural  exhibit  at  Omaha,  Neb.,  1898;  joined  the 
Farmers'  Union  at  the  first  opportunity,  and  was  elected  State 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  355 

Secretary-Treasurer  in  1907,  and  re-elected  in  1908.  Luthy  has 
a  pleasant  home,  and  has  raised  a  large  family.  Some  of  his  Ijoys 
are  in  the  West,  and  have  builded  good  reputations. 

:\IoRGAN,  W.  S.,  Springfield,  Mo. — Author  of  "History  of  the 
Wheel  and  Alliance,"and  the  Impending  Revolution  ;"  was  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Wheel  and  Alliance,  and  is  now  working  for 
the  Farmers'  Union. 

MiTCiiELi.,  A.  P.,  Steel,  Mo. — Organizer  and  County  Secretary; 
is  a  faithful  worker  in  his  county,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Jan- 
uary meeting  at  Memphis,  1908. 

Miller,  John  A.,  East  Prairie,  Mo. — Ex-State  Executive  Com- 
mitteeman, and  Vice-President  of  State  Union.  Said  to  be  a  fine 
farmer  and  a  good  man. 

Peters,  M.  B.,  West  Plains,  Mo. — Became  a  member  of  the 
Union  in  December,  1907,  and  was  at  once  elected  Secretary  of 
the  County  Union  ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  in 
Springfield  in  1908,  and  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Resolutions 
Committee  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Com- 
mittee. Was  selected  by  the  Advisory  Board  as  Special  State  Lec- 
turer ;  spends  much  of  his  time  at  this  work,  and  is  devoted  to 
the  Union. 

OuiLLEN,  W,  H..  Lebanon,  Mo. — W'as  born  in  Indiana,  May  25, 
1857;  removed  to  Kansas  1875;  became  a  member  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  June,  1906;  has  been  in  the  organization  work  ever 
since;  has  traveled  over  2,000  miles  the  past  season,  mostly  with 
his  own  rig.     Guillen  was  prominent  in  L'''nion  aflfairs  in  Kansas. 

RuBOTTOM,  R.  M.,  Patterson,  Mo. — Is  a  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee,  and  is  trying  to  push  the  work  in  his  State. 
He  joined  as  a  charter  member ;  has  served  as  President  of  his 
local,  and  as  County  Business  Agent ;  has  been  a  delegate  to  the 
State  meeting.     Is  a  practical  and  successful  farmer. 

Ray,  H.  M.,  Neosho,  Mo. — Ex-State  Organizer  and  ex-Door- 
keeper of  the  National  Union.  Ray  did  a  great  deal  of  organizing 
in  the  early  days  of  the  organization  in  Missouri.  He  organized 
the  first  local  in  the  State. 

SuMMiTT,  N.  H.,  President  State  Union,  Cardwell,  Mo. — Was 
born  January  26,  1868,  in  Lawrence  County,  Indiana.  His  parents 
moved  from  Indiana  to  Tennessee  in  1877,  where  young  Summitt 
resided  until  1895,  when  he  moved  to  Dunklin  County,  Missouri. 


356  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

In  1905  he  joined  the  first  local  Union  organized  in  Southeast  Mis- 
souri, and  was  elected  President  of  this  local  Union  in  February, 
1906.  When  the  Dunklin  County  Union  was  organized,  he  was 
chosen  President  of  that  body.  He  was  elected  President  of  the 
Missouri  State  Union  at  Springfield,  in  1908.  His  educational 
advantages  were  limited  but  he  has  made  the  best  of  his  oppor- 
tunities. N.  H.  Summitt  is  a  successful  farmer,  producing  on  his 
farm  everything  that  he  needs.  His  success  as  a  farmer  and  his 
love  of  Union  principles  has  made  him  a  factor  in  the  Union  move- 
ment in  his  State.  He  is  faithfully  administrating  the  afifairs  of 
the  State  President's  office. 

Shaw,  J.  W.,  Pontiac,  Mo. — Was  born  in  Tennessee,  Septem- 
ber 29,  1873,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Missouri  in  1887.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  State.  Upon 
the  advent  of  the  Union  into  Missouri,  he  became  identified  with 
the  organization.  He  was  elected  delegate  to  the  State  Union, 
where  he  was  elected  State  Organizer  and  Lecturer,  in  which 
capacity  he  is  now  serving. 

Stubbs,  David,  Florisant,  Mo. — Worked  in  several  counties  in 
Illinois  and  Missouri ;  was  delegate  to  Missouri  State  Convention, 
1908. 

Weir,  J.  G.,  Poplar  Blufif,  Mo. — Ex-President  of  Missouri 
State  Union. 

YouNT,  William  B.,  Marble  Hill,  Mo. — Born  in  Ballinger 
County,  Missouri,  November  2,0,  1859,  and  was  raised  on  a  farm. 
When  twenty  years  of  age  began  teaching  in  the  public  schools, 
and  followed  teaching  and  farming  for  seventeen  years.  Was  a 
member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  and  Agricultural  Wheel,  in  both 
of  which  he  held  office.  Was  elected  Collector  of  Revenue  of  his 
county  in  1896,  and  was  re-elected  in  1898,  Is  a  successful  farmer, 
and  loyal  member  of  the  Union.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  35T 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  NORTH  CAROLINA,  NEBRASKA, 
NEW  MEXICO,   OKLAHOMA. 

NORTH    CAROLINA. 

Alexander,  Dr.  H.  Q.,  President  of  the  North  Carolina 
Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  Matthews,  N.  C. — Was  born  in 
Iredell  County,  North  Carolina,  August  23,  1863,  where  he  re- 
ceived an  academic  education;  taught  from  1882-1886;  entered 
the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Maryland,  graduat- 
ing in  1888;  won  the  Appleton  prize  for  the  best  examination 
before  the  North  Carolina  Medical  Board  1888;  located  in  the 
Providence  section  of  Mecklenburg  County,  1888,  and  bought  a 
farm  1890;  Ex-President  of  the  Mecklenburg  County  Medical 
Society  and  examiner  for  several  life  insurance  companies ;  ex- 
member  of  the  North  Carolina  Legislature  (1903)  ;  member  and 
ruling  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church;  married,  1888,  to  Miss 
Annie  Campbell,  of  York  County,  North  Carolina.  Dr.  H.  K. 
Alexander  is  descended  from  the  old  Alexander  family  of  Meck- 
lenburg County.  This  family  has  been  prominent  in  church  and 
State  for  more  than  a  century.  The  father  of  H.  Q.  Alexander 
was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Iredell  County.  Dr.  Alexander  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  for  several  years ;  joined 
the  Farmers'  Union  upon  its  advent  into  his  State,  and  was  elected 
State  President  at  the  Convention  held  in  Charlotte,  1908.  Dr. 
Alexander  is  a  self-made  man  and  his  every  sympathy  is  with  the 
masses.  He  was  re-elected  State  President  at  Monroe,  December, 
1908.  During  his  administration  North  Carolina  has  made  rapid 
progress. 

Armstrong,  J.  G.,  Raleigh,  N.  C. — Did  his  first  work  in  Arkan- 
sas ;  was  County  Lecturer  of  White  County,  Arkansas,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  Executive  Committee;  was  District  Chaplain.  He 
went  to  Mississippi  as  Organizer,  1906,  and  spent  eight  months 
organizing  there.  He  went  to  North  Carolina  in  1907,  and  began 
working  in  that  State.     He  has  traveled  manv  thousand  miles  and 


358 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


'^o<" 


STATE  OKFICIAI.S  AND  rUOMIXKNT  WOUKKUS,  WASHINGTON  DIVISION. 

1.   A.  D.  Cnoss,  State  Secretary-Treasurer. 
I.'.   N.  n.  Atkinson,  Ex-State  President. 
?,.   II.  D.  O.  Oox,  Organizer  iuul  I.criurer. 
4.   A.   A.   Elmouk,   State  OrKJini/ei-. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  359 

has  organized  nearly  200  local  Unions  all  told.     He  is  one  of  the 
faithful  ones. 

BiVENS,  S.  R.,  Monroe,  N.  C. — Has  traveled  about  2,006  miles 
and  organized  more  than  50  local  Unions.  He  is  a  persistent 
worker  and  has  done  much  to  help  the  Union  cause  in  his  State. 

CoGGiNS,.  J.  P.,  Bear  Creek,  N.  C. — Joined  the  Union  upon  its 
advent  into  North  Carolina;  has  long  been  a  successful  farmer 
and  a  friend  and  patron  of  the  farmers'  organizations  in  his  State. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  and  was 
elected  President  of  the  Alliance  Manufacturing  Company,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  January,  1908,  the  Union  Supply  Com- 
pany, of  Bear  Creek,  was  chartered  with  a  capital  stock  of  $30,000 
and  he  was  elected  secretary  of  this;  was  a  delegate  to  the  late 
convention  held  at  Monroe,  at  which  time  he  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  State  Executive  Committee. 

Crowder,  William  G.,  Carey,  N.  C. — Is  a  native  of  Wake 
County,  North  Carolina ;  was  educated  in  the  public,  academic 
and  high  schools  of  the  community ;  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
and  teaching,  now  owning  and  living  on  the  farm  where  he  was 
born.  He  has  been  a  member  of  every  farmers'  organization  that 
has  existed  in  his  State.  He  was  also  connected  with  the  Secre- 
tary's office  of  the  State  Alliance ;  has  held  positions  of  trust  in  his 
community.  At  the  organization  of  Wake  County  Union,  he  was 
chosen  delegate  to  the  State  Union  at  Monroe,  where  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  1907. 

Carter,  S.  L.,  Kings  Mountain,  N.  C. — Was  the  first  delegate 
ever  sent  from  North  Carolina  to  a  National  Union  meeting.  He 
attended  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas ;  was  on  the  committee  that  set 
the  price  for  cotton  at  15  cents  and  through  his  efforts  secured  the 
service  of  G.  W.  Pant,  of  Texas,  and  J.  G.  Armstrong,  of  Arkan- 
sas, for  North  Carolina  Union.  The  beginning  of  their  work 
really  marked  the  beginning  of  unionism  in  North  Carolina.  He 
is  President  of  the  Cleveland  County  Union,  and  has  been  for  a 
number  of  years ;  is  loved  and  esteemed  by  his  people. 

Corn  WELL.  Thomas  P.,  Lincolnton,  N.  C. — Was  born  August, 
1869.  Through  his  own  push  and  energy,  he  obtained  an  educa- 
tion at  Rutherford  College,  North  Carolina.  He  is  one  of  Lin- 
coln's jnost  progressive  farmers  and  one  of  her  most  respected 
citizens.     He  is  well  known  throughout  the  country  as  an  upright. 


360  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

valuable   citizen.     He    has   been   honored    by   his   country   with 
positions  of  honor  and  trust. 

Cansler^  J.  E.,  Lincolnton,  N.  C. — EnUsted  as  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  his  local  in  1908;  was  elected  doorkeeper;  always  makes  it 
a  rule  to  speak  a  good  word  for  the  Union  when  and  where  he 
can. 

Crosby^  W.  C,  Charlotte,  N.  C. — Was  elected  Secretary-Treas- 
urer of  Mecklenburg  County  when  organized,  and  has  done  good 
service  for  his  Union ;  was  great  help  in  organizing  and  building 
a  warehouse  at  Charlotte,  which  is  a  credit  to  the  North  Carolina 
Union. 

Combs,  J.  E.,  Lincolnton,  N.  C. — Joined  the  Union  as  a 
charter  member  of  his  local,  April,  1908.  He  was  elected  Door- 
keeper of  the  State  Union.     He  has  done  his  duty  well. 

DaviS;  a.  C,  Monroe,  N.  C. — Is  Chaplain  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina State  Union  and  stands  well  in  his  community  and  with  the 
Union. 

Faires,  E.  C,  Secretary-Treasurer  North  Carolina  Farmers' 
Union,  Kings  Mountain,  N.  C. — Was  born  on  a  farm  in  Gaston 
County,  North  Carolina,  August  6,  1866.  At  twenty-one  he  went 
into  the  mercantile  business  at  Gaston.  April  i,  1908,  he  was 
elected  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  North  Carolina  Division  of 
the  Farmers'  Union.  Faires  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  left 
hand  while  a  lad  of  twelve  years.  By  reason  of  this  accident,  he 
was  given  advantages  in  school  that  was  not  given  to  his  brothers. 
Shortly  after  marrying  Miss  Dora  J.  Falls,  he  moved  to  Kings 
Mountain,  Cleveland  County,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he 
has  ever  since  resided.  As  Secretary-Treasurer  of  North  Caro- 
lina, he  has  devoted  every  energy  and  given  every  talent  of  which 
he  is  possessed  to  the  building  up  of  the  Union,  and  in  maintain- 
ing business-like  methods  in  his  office.  He  was  re-elected  State 
Secretary-Treasurer  at  Monroe  in  December,  1908. 

Ford,  J.  E.  C,  Lowell,  N.  C. — Was  the  first  elected  State 
Organizer ;  is  an  ardent  Union  man. 

Green,  J.  Z.,  State  Organizer  of  North  Carolina,  Marshville, 
N.  C. — Among  the  prominent  leaders  and  newspaper  men  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  in  North  Carolina,  stands  the  name  of  J.  Z. 
Green.  He  was  born  on  a  farm,  upon  which  he  is  still  living, 
near  the  town  of  Marshville.     He  had  no  college  education,  but 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  361 

received  a  good  English  education  in  the  cumnion  schools  of  the 
country.  In  1892,  he  began  the  publication  of  a  newspaper,  and 
has  continued  as  a  farmer  and  newspaper  man  ever  since.  In 
1908,  he  began  the  publication  of  the  Union  Farmer,  one  of  the 
leading  Union  papers.  He  was  a  leader  in  the  Alliance  and 
edited  "Our  Home,"  an  Alliance  paper.  Many  business  men 
predicted  the  downfall  of  the  paper,  for,  as  they  said,  it  was  like 
putting  down  a  saw-mill  where  there  was  no  timber.  The  paper, 
however,  succeeded,  because  Green  had  the  ability  and  courage  to 
make  it  a  success.  He  declined  the  nomination  for  the  State 
Senate,  as  also  the  nomination  for  Congress,  from  the  Sixth 
District,  when  a  nomination  meant  election.  He  joined  the  Union 
at  the'  first  opportunity  and  has  been  ably  at  work  in  its  behalf 
ever  since.  At  the  State  Convention  in  Monroe,  December,  1908, 
he  was  elected  State  Organizer  for  his  State.  I  wish  we  had 
more  men  like  Green. 

Gu^soN,  W.  B.,  Iredell  County,  N.  C. — Is  President  of  Iredell 
County  Union,  and  has  done  good  work  as  an  organizer  in  his 
county,  and  also  in  Alexander  County;  is  a  man  of  fine  judgment 
and  it  is  well  the  Union  of  North  Carolina  has  such  a  man  within 
its  ranks. 

Hunter,  Richard  B.,  Charlotte,  N.  C. — A  "tar-heel"  native 
and  "to  the  manor  born,"  served  sixteen  months  in  the  Confeder- 
ate army  as  member  of  Company  C,  loth  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment; surrendered  with  Lee  at  Appomattox,  and  reached  home 
on  his  sixteenth  birthday;  took  high  school  and  college  course  at 
Erskine  College,  South  Carolina ;  elected  State  Lecturer  of  Farm- 
ers' Alliance  and  served  as  State  and  Assistant  National  Lecturer 
for  two  and  one-half  years ;  was  Superintendent  of  Education  in 
Mecklenburg  County ;  elected  Lecturer  of  North  Carolina  division 
of  Farmers'  Union  in  April,  1908 ;  traveled  about  5,000  miles ; 
made  143  public  addresses  and  46  speeches  to  Union  in  executive 
session. 

Logan,  B.  G.,  Kings  Mountain,  N.  C. — Is  Organizer  for 
Cleveland  County;  was  with  W.  A.  ]\Iorris  and  G.  W.  Fant  a 
part  of  the  time ;  met  with  many  hardships  and  sometimes  had  to 
walk  three  miles  after  speaking  to  find  a  place  to  sleep,  but  he  was 
in  it  to  win,  and  win  he  did. 

Logan,  John  J.,  King's  Mountain,  N.  C. — Joined  as  a  charter 
member  of  his  local.  He  w^as  placed  in  the  field  as  an  organizer 
by  W.  A.  Morris  and  did  his  work  well. 


362 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


.STATE  OFFICIALS,  NORTH  CAKOLINA  DIVISION. 
1.  E.  C.  Faires.  State  Secretary-Treasurer. 

2.  H.  Q.  Alexander,  State  President. 
3.  A.  C.  SniiFoiti),  Vlce-1'resldoDt.  4.  J.  Z.  Gueen,  State  Organizer. 


OF  THE  farmers'  union.  363 

Morrow,  Orson,  Rutherfordton,  N.  C. — Has  belonp^ed  to  all 
the  farmers'  org^anizations  in  his  State;  was  a  member  of  the 
Alliance;  was  elected  Lecturer  of  his  County  Union;  delegate  to 
the  first  State  meeting  at  Charlotte,  where  he  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Excutive  Committee,  of  which  he  is  now  chair- 
man. 

Phillips^  U.  S.  G.,  Unika,  N.  C. — Joined  the  Union  February, 
1908,  and  was  elected  Secretary-lVeasurer  of  his  local  at  the 
time ;  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  first  State  meeting  held  in 
Charlotte,  also  a  delegate  to  the  Lincolnton  meeting  and  the 
Monroe  convention  ;  organized  Cherokee  and  Lincolnton  Counties, 
and  Monroe  and  Polk  Counties,  Tennessee.  He  is  Sergeant- at- 
Arms  of  the  State  Union. 

Pharr,  W.  S.,  Charlotte,  N.  C. — Joined  the  Union  about 
January,  1908;  has  been  delegate  to  all  the  State  meetings;  helped 
to  organize  and  build  his  warehouse ;  is  a  hard  worker  for  the 
Union. 

Plyler,  p.  p.  W.,  Monroe,  N.  C. — A  member  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee,  and  has  good  business  qualities,  a  thing 
needed  in  every  member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  earn- 
estly devoted  to  the  work. 

Randolph,  D.  A.,  Bryson  City,  N.  C. — Is  one  of  the  State 
Executive  Committeemen  and  has  done  great  service  for  the 
Union  in  the  mountain  counties,  which  now  bid  fair  to  rival  some 
of  our  eastern  counties,  and  his  service  has  done  much  to  bring 
this  about. 

Rotiirock,  E.  a.,  Stokes  County,  N.  C. — Is  Secretary-Treas- 
urer of  his  County  LTnion,  and  has  done  good  service  for  the 
Union  by  writing  some  good  articles  for  his  local  newspaper,  and 
always  being  alive  to  the  interests  of  his  County  Union. 

SnuFORD,  A.  C,  Vice-President  North  Carolina  Farmers' 
Utiion,  Newton,  N.  C. — Was  born  in  Cataba  County,  North 
Carolina,  March  i,  1858;  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  county  and  Cataba  College;  is  a  farmer  by  occupation;  joined 
the  Alliance  in  1889,  and  soon  became  one  of  the  prominent 
leaders  of  that  movement;  was  made  County,  and  later  District 
Lecturer;  was  elected  delegate  to  the  labor  conference  at  St.  Louis 
in  February,  1892 ;  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  State 
Alliance  in  1894;  served  for  some  time  as  Congressman  from  his 


364  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

district;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  upon  its  advent  into  North 
Carolina,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  State  Union  in  March, 
1908,  was  elected  Vice-President,  where  he  brought  to  bear  all 
the  trained  powers  at  his  command ;  was  re-elected  Vice-President 
at  the  meeting  in  Monroe,  December,  1908, 

SwANsoN,  W.  T.,  Pembroke,  N.  C. — Is  one  of  the  leading 
organizers  in  the  Old  North  State,  where  he  went  from  Georgia 
in  1906,  to  take  up  the  work.  He  had  previously  organized  in 
several  counties  in  Georgia,  and  when  he  entered  North  Carolina, 
he  made  a  fine  record.  He  made  fifty  speeches  and  organized 
forty-eight  locals  from  this  effort.  He  organized  more  than  lOO 
locals  all  told,  and  bears  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  those  who 
helped  to  line  up  North  Carolina. 

Scott.  Reese  W.,  Monroe,  N.  C. — Has  organized  seventy-five 
local  Unions,  and  made  about  175  speeches.  He,  too,  met  with 
many  hardships,  but  persevered  till  his  section  of  the  State  was 
in  good  working  order. 

Stroup,  D.  a.,  Bessimer  City,  N.  C. — Has  been  Secretary  of 
the  Gaston  County  Union  since  organization.;  has  aided  in  organ- 
izing and  building  a  good  warehouse. 

Kershaw,  James  E.,  Salem,  Neb. — Has  done  organizing  and 
lecturing  work  in  Missouri  and  Illinois.  In  these  two  States  he 
organized  fifty  local  Unions,  with  a  total  membership  of  920 

Compton,  C.  M.,  Texico,  N.  M. — Was  one  of  the  early 
members  of  the  order.  He  was  elected  State  Lecturer  at  the 
organization  of  the  State  Union  of  Texas,  in  Mineola,  1904,  and 
served  one  year  before  he  moved  to  New  Mexico.  He  is  a  very 
forceful  speaker  and  did  much  good  work  for  the  cause  as  State 
Lecturer  of  Texas. 

Childers,  J.  W.,  Texico,  N.  M. — Has  done  a  lot  of  lecturing 
in  Texas  and  New  Mexico;  has  done  some  organizing;  is  still 
at  work  in  New  Mexico,  where  he  is  doing  all  he  can. 

Patterson,  Green  B.,  Ingleville,  N.  M. — Was  born  April  27, 
1862,  in  Wise  County,  Texas,  on  a  frontier  farm.  Had  all  the 
hardships  and  knocks  of  a  frontier  boy.  At  the  age  of  18,  he 
joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  and  during  a  membership  of  ten 
years  in  that  organization  filled  several  offices.  Joined  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  in  Kiowa  County,  Oklahoma,  in  1904,  and  served  as 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  366 

its  Chaplain,  Served  as  County  Lecturer,  and  was  elected  State 
Business  Agent,  serving-  six  months.  Also  served  as  State 
Lecturer  and  Organizer  for  Oklahoma.  Moved  to  New  Mexico 
in  1907.     He  was  twice  a  delegate  to  National  Conventions. 

Armstrong,  J.  K.,  Ardmore,  Okla. — He  is  one  of  the  really 
powerful  writers  on  the  Union  press  of  the  country.  A  man 
with  a  keen  brain  and  the  gift  of  forceful  expression.  He  secured 
the  "Union  Review,"  and  through  his  able  advocacy  and  defense 
of  Union  principles  in  Oklahoma,  has  made  the  paper  an  authori- 
tative voice  in  the  advancement  of  the  organizations'  advance- 
ment. A  man  must  feel  strongly  the  things  he  advocates,  must 
be  stirred  by  real  sympathy  and  understanding  to  make  his  voice 
heard  and  when  heard,  to  bring  conviction.  These  are  the  quali- 
ties that  have  made  the  subject  of  this  sketch  a  potent  figure  in 
the  counsels  of  the  Union  in  the  great  and  growing  State  of 
Oklahoma.  He  has  real  understanding  of  the  toiling  masses, 
and  in  understanding,  has  the  sympathy  and  intelligence  to  give 
expression  to  helpful  views. 

Belden,  W.  F.,  Maramec,  Okla.-^Became  a  charter  member 
of  Lone  Eliu  Local  in  August,  1905 ;  was  elected  President  of 
the  County  Union  at  the  organization  of  same,  in  December  fol- 
lowing, and  holds  the  same  position  now.  August,  1908,  was 
elected  Chairman  of  the  State  Executive  Committee ;  holds  a 
directorship  in  three  Union  enterprises — a  cotton  gin,  cottonseed 
oil  mill  and  insurance  company — has  attended  all  State  meetings 
of  the  Union,  and  the  National  meeting  at  Memphis,  in  January, 
1908 ;  has  done  some  work  as  a  lecturer ;  is  a  good  worker  and 
has  done  much  to  help  make  the  co-operative  plans  of  the  Union 
a  success. 

Brown,  M.  B.,  Cordell,  Okla. — Is  an  old  Alliance  worker,  the 
principles  of  which  become  imbedded  in  his  heart  and  mind,  and 
he  has  always  stood  for  those  principles  in  the  organization  or 
out  of  it.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  commissioner  in  his 
county,  always  acting  that  upright,  honest  way,  that  gave  him  the 
confidence  of  the  common  people.  Brown  joined  the  Union  at 
the  first  available  opportunity,  living  a  consistent  member  of  the 
organization,  always  yielding  obedience  to  its  constitution,  laws 
and  rules  of  order,  hence  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the 
development  of  the  principles  of  the  Union  in  the  State  of  Okla- 
homa. Twice  elected  Vice-President  of  his  County  L^nion,  serv- 
ing two  terms  upon  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  State  Union, 


366  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

prominent  in  the  State  and  National  meetings,  and  as  Business 
Agent  of  the  Co-Operative  Association  of  his  County,  has  been 
faithful  to  every  trust  imposed  in  him  as  an  officer  in  the  organ- 
ization. 

Bell,  T.  J.,  Paoli,  Okla. — Joined  the  Union  in  Alabama.  He 
has  been  a  persistent  member  of  the  Union,  and  by  his  efforts, 
aided  in  its  advancement  all  that  he  could. 

Callahan,  J.  Y.,  Enid,  Okla. — Was  born  on  a  farm  in  Dent 
County,  Missouri,  December  19,  1852.  Though  connected  with 
a  number  of  business  enterprises,  J.  Y.  Callahan  has  always  been 
a  farmer.  -He  received  his  education  at  home  and  by  the  assist- 
ance of  his  wife.  At  twelve  years  of  age,  he  was  unable  to  read 
or  write,  but  by  close  application  he  has  become  one  of  the  best 
informed  on  current  problems  in  the  State.  He  was  elected  to 
Congress  in  1896,  and  he  and  Jerre  Simpson,  were  the  only 
farmers  of  the  fifty-fifth  Congress.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Grange  and  Alliance ;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  as  soon  as 
it  came  to  his  State,  and  has  been  active  ever  since.  He  served 
for  sometime  as  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee. 
Callahan  is  a  good  talker  and  writer.  He  is  author  of  the  "Burn- 
ing Issue." 

Crawford,  W.  J.,  Shawnee,  Okla. — Was  born,  raised  and  edu- 
cated in  Indiana,  going  west  in  1866.  Taught  school  and  was  a 
cowboy  part  of  the  time.  Has  nearly  always  resided  on  a  farm. 
W^as  identified  with  the  Grange,  then  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  and 
Agricultural  Wheel,  and  was  for  many  years  a  member  and 
lecturer  for  the  Knights  of  Labor.  Became  a  member  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  in  1904,  and  was  elected  Lecturer  for  Comanche 
County.  Was  a  delegate  to  the  National  meeting  in  Tcxarkana 
in  1906.  Helped  to  organize  the  Kansas  Union.  Served  there 
as  a  lecturer  for  a  time,  but  returned  home  to  take  the  field. 
Was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  in  1908,  and  was  then 
elected  State  Lecturer.  Crawford  is  a  strong  believer  in  co- 
operation. 

Corley,  J.  W.  L.,  Heavener,  Okla. — Joined  the  Union  as  a 
charter  member,  and  was  elected  delegate  to  the  County  Union 
in  the  same  month.  At  this  meeting  was  elected  Lecturer  and 
Organizer  for  the  County  LTnion,  which  met  in  March  following ; 
gave  his  entire  time  to  the  work,  and  in  a  year  the  membership 
of  the  county  numbered  more  than  3,000.  In  October,  1905,  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Board  ;  was  a  delegate 


OF  THE  farmers'  union.  367 

to  the  National  meeting-  at  Texarkana,  when  the  National  Union 
was  organized ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  mass  meeting  at  Memphis, 
I'enn. ;  has  been  a  delegate  to  and  attended  every  State  meeting 
held  in  Oklahoma  but  one;  has  missed  but  few  county  meetings 
in  his  county  since  its  organization ;  has  spoken  to  the  farmers 
in  almost  every  county  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  State ;  is  a 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture ;  is  President  of  the 
Farmers'  Institute,  LeFlore  County,  and  President  Hanover 
Warehouse  Company. 

Connors,  J.  P.,  Canadian,  Okla. — Ex-Vice-Preesident  Okla- 
homa State  Union ;  President  Oklahoma  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture; President  Board  of  Regents  of  State  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  Colleges ;  Member  of  State  School  Commission ; 
Chairman  of  State  Pure  Food,  Dairy  and  Drug  Commission; 
Vice-President  State  Banking  Board;  President  Board  of 
Regents  of  State  School  of  Mines ;  Secretary  Board  of  Control 
of  State  Prisons ;  Member  of  State  Pardon  Board,  and  Member 
of  State  Tax  Equalization  Board. 

Collins,  J.  B.,  Dryden,  Okla. — An  intelligent,  hard  worker. 
He  avails  himself  of  every  means  for  the  education  of  his  chil- 
dren; joined  the  Union  in  the  early  days  in  Greer  County;  has 
been  County  Lecturer  three  terms.  Being  a  \yorking  farmer,  he 
is  acquainted  with  the  hopes  and  disappointments  of  his  riass 
of  people,  therefore,  his  lectures  carry  convicition. 

CaveS;  J.  M.,  Canadian,  Okla. — Lecturer  and  Organizer;  has 
lectured  and  organized  in  several  States,  especially  in  Kansas 
and  Oklahoma.    Caves  has  done  some  good  work. 

Carter,  A.  J.,  Mayesville,  Okla. — Lecturer  and  Organizer. 
In  the  early  days  in  the  Union  in  Oklahoma,  he  was  quite  active. 

Daws,  S.  O.,  Guthrie,  Okla. — The  old  war  horse  of  Unionism 
in  Oklahoma.  He  has  been  engaged  in  active  Union  work  since 
the  organization  in  Washita  County ;  was  first  elected  County 
Lecturer  and  Organizer,  then  delegate  to  the  first  State  Union, 
known  as  Indiahoma ;  was  elected  President  of  that  body  by 
acclamation ;  served  two  .terms,  the  constitutional  limit ;  was  then 
elected  State  Lecturer  and  Organizer.  No  more  earnest  Union 
man  than  Daws  ever  w^orked  in  the  State.  Always  working  for 
peace  and  harmony  among  the  members.  He  knows  from  ex- 
perience what  the  burdens  are  the  farmer  has  to  carry.  He  is 
an  earnest  and  fluent  talker,  and  is  still  a  power  among-  his 
people  in  the  State.     He  never  misses  a  State  meeting,  and  his 


368 


MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


STATE    KXKCLTIVE    COMMITTEE,    Xt)UTH    CAUOLINA    DIVISION. 

1.  Okson  Monuow.  Chairman.  2.   P.  P.  W.  I'lylkk,  Secretary. 

3.  T.  V.  CoKNwnLL.       4.  \\.  O.  Ckowdicu.       5.  J.  P.  Coa<jiNS. 


OF   T?IE    farmers'    UNION,  369 

advice  on  important  matters  is  always  sought.  Daws  was  born 
in  Kemper  Coimty,  Mississippi,  on  the  28th  day  of  December, 
1848.  His  ancestors  on  his  father's  side  were  from  Ireland. 
His  maternal  forefathers  came  from  the  region  of  the  Baltic. 
He  moved  to  Texas  in  1868.  In  i88i,.he  was  appointed  County 
Alliance  Organizer  for  Parker  County.  In  1882.  he  was  elected 
State  Lecturer  of  the  Alliance.  After  the  National  Alliance  was 
organized,  he  served  as  National  Organizer  in  ^Mississippi  for 
awhile.     He  is  at  the  present  time  State  Librarian  of  Oklahoma. 

Dial,  Hardv,  Tecumseh,  Okla. — Was  born  in  Kauman 
County,  Texas,  June  24.  1854;  joined  the  Grange  at  the  Irby 
Schoolhouse,  Barker  County,  Texas,  on  the  5th  day  of  May, 
1873;  lived  through  the  life  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  and  lastly 
joined  the  Farmers'  Union  at  Etoile,  Texas,  1903  ;  has  been  in 
the  Farmers'  Union  work  from  that  day  till  this.  Most  of  the 
time  has  been  Organizer  and  Lecturer;  now  is  Assistant  State 
Organizer  and  Lecturer-at-Large  for  Oklahoma. 

Douglas,  B.  T..  Erick,  Okla. — Was  born  on  a  farm  in  Texas, 
AJay  15,  1867;  attended  the  country  schools  of  his  county  and 
later  spent  five  months  in  Austin  College ;  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Farmers'  Alliance;  joined  the  Farmers'  L^nion  in  1902; 
assisted  in  organizing  and  building  a  co-operative  gin ;  has 
served  as  President  of  his  County  Union  and  as  a  member  of 
the  State  Executive  Committee. 

DuFFEv,  E.  E.,  Lexington,  Okla. — A  prominent  farmer  of 
Cleveland  County.  Once  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 
He  was  at  an  early  day  prominent  in  Union  work  in  the  county ; 
was  V' ice-President  of  the  State  Union ;  was  appointed  by  the 
State  Union  Chairman  of  Committee  on  Legislation  to  attend 
Constitutional  Convention  at  Guthrie,  to  aid  and  have  incorpo- 
rates in  convention  of  Oklahoma  the  twenty-four  labor  demands, 
which  immortalized  that  document. 

EsTEs,  P.  C,  Snyder,  Okla. — One  of  the  early  organizers  of 
the  Union  of  West  Oklahoma ;  one  of  its  most  faithful  workers, 
wdio  has  done  a  general  work  over  most  of  the  territorv  of  the 
new  State.  He  is  a  Baptist  minister  of  local  prominence ;  was 
elected  Chaplain  of  the  first  State  Union,  holding  same  for  two 
terms ;  never  missed  a  State  meeting  since  organization. 

Eddv,    F.    B.,    Edmond,    Okla. — Organized    Comache,    Caddo, 
Oklahoma.    Lincoln    and   a    good    portion    of    Canadian,    Logan, 
34 


370  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Blaine,  Cleveland,  Pottawotamie,  Payne,  Kiowa,  and  Washita. 
He  is  forty-one  years  old  and  is  still  in  the  work  as  Assistant 
State  Organizer.     He  has  organized  about  350  locals. 

Fowler^  O.  E.,  Durant,  Okla. — Joined  the  Union  in  June, 
1904,  at  Durant;  was  the  chartered  Secretary  of  this  local;  was 
employed  by  Texas  Union  prior  to  his  State  Union  to  lecture 
and  organize  from  December,  1904,  till  February,  1905 ;  was 
elected  delegate  to  the  Shawnee,  Okla.,  Convention,  when  State 
Union  was  organized;  worked  as  Secretary  for  State  organiza- 
tion till  June  I,  1905. 

Garrison,  William,  President  of  Oklahoma,  Pond  Creek, 
Okla.- — -Is  a  native  of  Green  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was 
born  in  1839.  He  served  through  the  civil  war  with  the  Eighth 
Missouri  Regiment.  Returning  from  the  war,  he  entered  Arling- 
ton College,  September,  1865,  graduated  in  1868,  after  which 
lie  taught  for  two  years.  In  1879  he  moved  to  Barber  County, 
Kansas,  and  in  1893  moved  to  the  Territory  of  Oklahoma,  where 
he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  shortly 
after  the  movement  began  in  the  Territor}^,  and  was  elected  State 
President  at  the  convention  in  1908. 

Griffin,  E.  A.,  Crescent,  Okla. — An  early  member  of  the 
Union;  served  a  term  as  State' Organizer ;  was  also  Secretary 
of  the  Logan  County  Co-Operative  Association. 

Harrison,  William  H.  A.,  Checotah,  Okla. — Was  born  in 
Wayne  County,  Missouri,  April  31,  1846;  joined  the  Grange,  the 
Farmers'  Alliance,  and  the  Agricultural  W'heel ;  joined  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  in  the  Indian  Territory,  in  the  spring  of  1905 ;  has 
served  as  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  local  ever  since.  The 
night  that  he  was  initiated  he  was  elected  District  Organizer  and 
Lecturer  of  the  Tenth  District ;  served  for  two  years ;  was  elected 
as  a  delegate  to  the  first  State  Union  of  Indiahoma ;  has  repre- 
sented district  and  county  since  Statehood;  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  first  National  meeting  at  Texarkana, ;  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee  of  Oklahoma  last 
August. 

Hook,  C.  E.,  Shawnee,  Okla. — An  intelligent  young  farmer, 
who  has  been  an  energetic  and  enthusiastic  developer  ot  Union 
principles;  was  elected  State  Secretary-Treasurer.  August,  1908, 
without  solicitation ;  is  now  serving  first  term  with  credit  to  self 
anrl  with  honor  to  the  Union;  is  earnest,  energetic  and  efficient 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  371 

officer;  wins    friendship  of  brothers  that  open  gates  to  greater 
and  more  prominent  work  of  the  future. 

Harrison,  J.  W.,  Colorado  City,  Okla. — Was  elected  first 
President  of  Kiowa  County  Union,  and  was  a  delegate  to  form 
the  Territorial  organization  into  the  State  Union ;  was  made  one 
of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  afterward  elected  Secretary- 
Treasurer;  has  done  good  work  for  the  l^nion. 

Houchin,  J.  W.,  Tecumseh,  Okla. — Is  a  hard  working  farmer 
from  Kentucky ;  an  early  member  of  the  Union ;  at  all  times  in- 
terested in  the  success  of  the  organization,  taking  prominent  part 
in  the  discussion  of  all  questions  afifecting  the  organization  in 
county  and  State.     He  is  one  of  the  State  Lecturers. 

Hinds,  J.  B.,  Dill,  Okla. — Is  a  prominent  farmer,  with  a  good 
farm  and  a  nice  home,  who  espouses  the  cause  of  the  Union ;  was 
made  a  member  of  the  first  organization  in  his  county ;  at  once 
accepting  the  commision  of  General  Organizer  under  the  admin- 
istration of  President  Murray  and  National  Union ;  at  once 
became  prominent  and  successful  in  the  organization  of  the 
Union  in  Oklahoma. 

Hanson,  B.  C,  Coalgate,  Okla. — An  early  organizer  for  the 
Union ;  was  elected  one  term  as  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  State 
Union ;  is  of  German  extraction. 

Jeffords,  T.  M.,  member  National  Board  of  Directors,  Elgin, 
Okla. — Is  a  native  of  Illinois,  where  he  was  born  and  reared  on 
a  farm  near  the  town  of  Winchester.  He  attended  the  country 
schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  later  entered  the  high  school  of 
Winchester.  Leaving  the  high  school,  he  entered  the  University 
of  Missouri,  where  he  remained  for  sometime.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  his  native  State,  first  as 
assistant  principal  of  the  High  School,  at  Winchester,  and  then 
as  principal  of  the  school  at  Vermont,  111.  He  returned  to 
Winchester  after  nine  years  and  became  superintendent  of  the 
city  schools.  In  1900  he  moved  to  Oklahoma  and  purchased  a 
farm,  upon  which  he  now  lives.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
National  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Farmers'  Union  at  Little 
Rock,  1907,  and  was  re-elected  at  Fort  Worth,  1908.  He  is  now 
secretary  of  the  board  and  is  one  of  the  indefatigable  workers  in 
the  Union  ranks.  Has  recently  been  engaged  by  the  State  Board 
o^  Agriculture  of  Oklahoma  to  organize  and  conduct  farmers' 
institutes.     He  is  an  intelligent,  broad-minded  man. 


372 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


PROMINENT    WORKKliS,    NUUTU    CAROLINA    DIVISION. 

1.   W.    T.     SwANSON,     rroniinent     Oi'KMiiizcr. 

2.  J.  E.  C.  Ford,  Ex-State  OrKiuiizcr. 
3.   D.  A.  Randoliti,  Member  First  Slate  Kxe<Mitive  ("(inimlttee. 

4.  R.  B.  IIiJNTKU,  Ex-Stnte  I^ecturer. 
5.  John  J.   Logan,  Member  First   Siate  Executive  Committee. 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  373 

JoNES^  J.  C,  Ada,  (  )kla. — Is  a  hard  working-  farmer,  who 
espoused  the  Union  cause  at  first  appearance  in  Indian  Territory ; 
became  a  member  and  prominent  local  worker.  • 

Johnson,  Lkonard,  Doxie,  Okla. — Is  a  hard-working  farmer, 
who  believes  in  organization  and  co-operation ;  has  done  a  great 
deal  of  lecturing. 

Keltner,  J.  H.,  Stonewall,  Okla. — Has  attended  several  State 
and  National  Conventions.   . 

Murray,  Hon.  William  H.,  President  of  the  Oklahoma  Con- 
stitutional Convention  and  the  Speaker  of  the  first  Legislature  of 
Oklahoma,  Tishomingo,  Okla. — Is  one  of  the  prominent  Farm- 
ers' Union  men,  and  identified  with  the  organization  since  it  was 
founded.  He  was  born  November  21,  ^1869,  in  Grayson  County, 
Texas,  wdiere  he  lived  until  some  twelve  years  ago,  when  he 
moved  to  the  Chickasaw  Nation,  now  a  portion  of  Oklahoma. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  in  Texas ;  was  a 
member  of  the  first  State  Union  organized  in  Oklahoma,  assisted 
in  drawing  the  constitution,  and  in  1907,  was  on  the  committee 
that  drew  the  new  constitution  for  the  State  Union  at  its  re- 
organization in  Oklahoma,  which  contains  many  new  sections 
drawn  in  the  light  of  the  experience  of  the  organization.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  first  National  Union,  which  met  at  Tex- 
arkana,  as  a  delegate  from  Oklahoma,  and  while  he  has  taken 
a  very  active  part  since  its  organization,  he  has  mvariably  re- 
fused, although  often  solicited  and  urged,  to  accept  office  in  the 
'Farmers'  Union,  saying  that  he  could  do  more  by  not  being  an 
officer,  he  would  not  then  be  charged  with  having  an  ulterior  or 
selfish  motive.  He  resides  upon  his  farm,  five  and  one-half  miles 
southeast  of  Tishomingo,  the  county  seat  of  Johnson  County, 
Oklahoma,  where  he  has  resided  since  the  12th  day  of  September, 
1 90 1,  when  he  retired  from  the  practice  of  law  and  became  a 
farmer,  except  the  tw'O  years  interim  when  he  was  President  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention  and  Speaker  of  the  first  Legisla- 
ture. After  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislature  he  retired  again 
to  his  farm,  where  he  now  resides. 

MooRE,  J.  S.,  Altus,  Okla. — Was  one  of  the  first  workers  in 
Greer  County,  taking  prominent  part  in  making  old  Greer  among 
the  great  counties  in  the  Union.  A  delegate  to  the  National 
Union  and  author  of  the  resolution  in  that  meeting  authorizing 
the  organization  of  Indian  Territory  and  Oklahoma  Territory  in 
one  State  Union.  Moore  was  elected  first  State  Secretary. 
Leaving  his  family  on  the  farm,  he  went  at  once  to  take  charge 


374:  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

of  the  work,  proving  worthy,  honest  and  proficient.  At  the  next 
annual  meeting  he  was  re-elected  to  the  position  by  acclamation, 
and  served  six  months  longer.  On  account  of  meager  salary, 
insufficient  to  support  his  family  in  Shawnee,  he  resigned,  re- 
turning to  the  farm,  to  the  loss  of  the  organization.  (The 
President  of  the  State  Union  said  at  the  time  that  the  State 
Union  had  lost  its  backbone  when  this  man  had  to  leave  work). 
]\Ioore  had  every  detail  of  the  organization  in  hand,  understand- 
ing the  conditions  of  the  organization  in  every  section  and  move- 
ments of  each  day.  No  vouchers  or  accounts  could  pass  his  eye 
without  protest  unless  right. 

Murray,  J.  S.,  Wewoka,  Okla. — Was  one  of  the  first  to  join 
the  organization  when  formed  in  the  Indian  Territory  (since  a 
part  of  the  new  State  of  Oklahoma).  Served  two  terms  as 
Secretary-Treasurer  in  the  Territory.  When  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory and  Oklahoma  were  merged  into  the  State  of  Oklahoma 
the  Unions  were  consolidated,  and  he  was  made  Secretary-Treas- 
urer ;  has  worked  hard  for  the  Union ;  believes  in  organization 
and  diversification;  favored  federating  all  State  warehouses  to 
sell  all  products  through  one  central  agent. 

Mason,  Tom,  Canute,  Okla. — Is  an  intelligent,  progressive 
working  farmer.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation;  nice  home,  and  a  happy  family. 
Before  he  went  to  the  farm  he  was  an  iron  worker,  and  belonged 
to  the  Moulders'  Association,  and  for  years  Vice-President  of 
their  National  Organization.  When  the  Farmers'  Union  was 
mentioned  in  his  section  he  at  once  joined,  and  took  a  leading 
part  in  the  work ;  was  made  President  of  his  local,  and  for  several 
years  was  President  of  Washita  County  Union. 

Mathews,  O.  H.,  Tupelo,  Okla. — A  farmer  and  an  early  de- 
veloper of  co-operation ;  unassuming  in  deportment ;  has  taken 
prominent  part  in  State  and  National  meetings ;  was  elected  and 
served  two  terms  on  the  State  Executive  Committee ;  is  active 
in  co-operation  work. 

Pebworth,  Henry,  Coalgate,  Okla. — Was  elected  on  State 
Execuive  Committee  in  1908,  resigning  the  position  shortly  after. 

Russell,  Campbell,  ex-member  National  Board  of  Directors, 
Warner,  Okla. — Was  born  at  Apple  Grove,  Morgan  County. 
Alabama,  October  22,  1863,  and  secured  his  education  in  an  old 
log  schoolhouse  about  two  miles  from  his  home.  At  seventeen 
years  of  age  he  moved  to  Johnson  County,  Arkansas,  where  he 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  375 

lived  for  one  year,  going  from  there  to  the  Commercial  College 
of  the  Kentucky  University.  In  the  fall  of  1884,  he  moved  to 
Okmulgee,  the  capitol  of  the  Creek  Nation.  In  1887  v/ent  into 
the  mercantile  business  in  the  Choctaw  Nation,  moving  from 
there  to  the  farm  in  1889,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 
Campbell  Russell  is  one  of  the  leading  breeders  of  Hereford 
cattle,  and  has  won  many  prizes  at  State  fairs.  At  the  World's 
Fair  in  St.  Louis,  he  was  given  a  diploma  as  premier  champion 
breeder  of  Herefords  for  the  Southern  division.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  Local  Union  No.  54 ;  delegate  to  the  first 
county  organization  of  his  county ;  delegate  to  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Indiahoma  Union,  and  two  years  Chairman  of  the  India- 
homa  State  Executive  Committee.  He  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  National  Board  of  Directors  at  the  Texarkana  Convention, 
1905,  and  re-elected  1906,  declining  to  allow  his  name  used  at  the 
1907  meeting,  as  he  had  been  nominated  for  the  Senate.  He 
established  the  first  free  schools  ever  established  for  white  chil- 
dren in  the  Territory,  except  such  as  had  been  established  by  the 
churches  in  the  Indian  Territory.  He  does  his  work  in  a  quiet 
way,  preferring  to  stand  back  and  let  others  have  the  honor.  He 
is  now  a  member  of  the  Oklahoma  Senate,  where  he  is  doing 
good  for  his  people.  The  National  Convention  in  1907,  gave 
Russell  a  gold  medal,  which  he  prizes  very  highly.  Russell  is 
always  busy. 

Ross,  A.  F.,  Durant,  Okla. — Brother  Ross  was  one  of  the 
early  men  of  the  L^nion  in  the  Indian  Territory ;  he  at  once 
became  an  enthusiastic  Union  worker;  was  delegate  to  the  State 
Union  at  Fort  Worth ;  aided  in  passing  the  resolutions  of  organ- 
ization ;  was  elected  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee ;  re- 
elected by  acclamation  at  second  State  meeting ;  at  all  times  and 
conditions  intensely  interested  and  taking  official  and  active  part 
in  all  matters  of  State  importance ;  was  valuable  factor  with 
State  President  in  securing  headquarters  in  Shawnee ;  rooms  for 
offices,  desks  and  fixtures  free  to  Union  at  expense  of  the  City, 
and  beautiful  hall  and  offices  for  State  meetings,  which  the  Union 
enjoys,  are  attributable  to  the  personal  efiforts  of  Brother  A.  F. 
Ross,  an  extensive  land  owner;  prominent  Mason,  and  Odd 
Fellow ;  two  times  in  the  Legislature,  dying  the  day  after  the 
second  election. 

Roach,  Tom,  Lula,  Okla. — Has  been  an  earnest  worker  in  his 
section  of  the  State.  He  has  been  twice  County  President ;  was 
elected,  in  1908,  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 


376  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

Saunders,  Harry,  Crescent,  Okla. — In  his  younger  days  he 
was  a  carpenter ;  on  account  of  his  health  he  gave  up  his  trade  in 
the  city  and  went  on  the  farm,  where  he  has  Hved  ever  since. 
On  the  first  notices  given  in  the  pubhc  press  of  the  organization 
of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  Texas,  Saunders  became  impressed 
with  the  merits  of  its  principles  and  the  importance  of  organiza- 
tion. He  wrote  at  once  to  those  who  were  in  authority  and 
through  his  agency  and  instrumentality  an  organization  was 
formed  in  his  community,  which  was  developed  into  one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  important  local  Unions  in  the  State.  Its 
work  in  co-operation  and  the  developments  of  the  principles  of 
Unionism  is  well  known.  He  still  holds  a  commission  as  Assist- 
ant State  Lecturer  and  Organizer.  Saunders  has  been  a  faithful 
worker. 

Stallard,  H.  H.,  Shawnee,  Okla. — Was  born  in  Virginia,  just 
at  the  close  of  the  great  Civil  War.  He  came  of  an  honest, 
hard-working  class  of  people,  who  had  helped  to  maintain  the 
dignity  of  the  South  before  and  during  the  war.  Young  Stallard 
found  it  difficult  to  get  a  chance  to  go  to  school  and  his  education 
was  neglected  up  to  his  sixteenth  year.  At  sixteen  he  was  given 
permission  to  keep  all  that  he  made,  and  by  hard  work  he  saved 
enough  to  go  to  school.  He  entered  Alilligan  College  and  alter- 
nately taught  and  studied  till  he  gradated.  He  settled  eventually 
in  the  West  and  there  became  identified  with  the  Farmers"  Union. 

SiMiTH,  Freeman  R.,  Vice-President  Oklahoma  State  Union, 
Canadian,  Okla. — Was  born  in  1868,  near  Granada,  in  Granada 
County,  Mississippi,  in  1875.  His  father.  H.  X.  Smith,  moved 
wuth  his  family  to  Canadian,  Indian  Territory,  where  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  raised,  and  has  lived  there  ever  since;  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Union  about  five  years  ;  served 
two  years  as  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Twelfth  Recording 
District  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  and  when  Pittsburg  County 
Union  was  organized,  was  elected  Secretary-Treasurer,  in  which 
capacity  he  was  serving  when  elected  Mce-President  of  the  State 
Union  of  Oklahoma,  in  August.  1908 ;  has  never  been  able  to 
find  a  place  to  lay  down  or  quit  working  for  the  good  of  the 
Union. 

Stewart,  L.  E.,  Sulphur,  Okla. — Became  a  member  in  Octo- 
ber, 1904;  became  a  commissif)ned  Organizer  under  Texas  for 
the  Indian  Territory,  in  December,  1904;  helped  to  organize 
Indiahoma  State  Union  of  Indian  Territory  and  Oklahoma ;  be- 
came a  full  Lecturer  under  Indiahoma  State  Officers ;  did  some 


OF    THE    FARMKKS'    UXIOX.  377 

ore^anizinq;  as  well  as  rebuilding-  in  that  capacity  ;  later  helped  to 
organize  Oklahoma  State  Union  after  Statehood ;  has  served  in 
the  capacity  of  manaj^^er  of  the  Farmers'  Union  Cotton  Yard  at 
Sulphur,  Okla.,  for  the  past  four  years. 

Smoot,  E.  M.,  Gage,  Okla. — Elected  on  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  State  Union,  1908;  is  well  informed  upon  the  ques- 
tions of  the  day  and  a  zealous  worker ;  manager  of  leading  co- 
operative institution  in  Ellis  County,  which  is  a  success. 

Vandiver,  W.  G.,  Cjranite.  Okla. — Ex-State  Executive  Com- 
mitteeman.    He  appears  to  be  all  right. 

West,  J.  A.,  Pauls  N'alley,  Okla. — .\n  early  convert  lo  Union- 
ism. A  working  farmer ;  enthusiastic  advocate  of  co-operation 
and  organization  among  farmers.  In  the  organization  of  his 
county  he  was  elected  President  of  the  County  Union,  filled  the 
position  with  credit  and  honor  to  the  county ;  became  prominent 
in  State ;  was  twice  elected  President  of  the  State  Union.  West 
has  attended  many  National  meetings  and  has  served  on  many 
important  committees. 

Ward,  R.  J.,  Spiro,  Okla. — \\^as  for  a  while  an  officer  in  the 
Indian  Territory  State  Union. 

York,  G.  W.,  Indianola,  Okla. — ^^'as  born  in  Viola  Count}-. 
Tennessee.  April  i,  1868;  moved  with  his  parents  to  Arkansas, 
in  1880,  and  moved  to  Indian  Territory  in  1889;  joined 
the  Agricultural  Wheel  in  1890;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union 
in  1904;  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  District  Aleeting  at 
Durant,  and  there  was  elected  as  a  delegate  to  the  Texas  State 
Convention,  which  convened  at  Fort  \\'orth.  Texas,  at  which 
time  he  was  one  of  the  eighteen  delegates  who  secured  a  charter 
for  the  Oklahoma  State  Union ;  was  in  the  organization  of  the 
Indiahoma  State  Union,  and  gave  to  it  the  first  secret 
work ;  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee, 
also  as  Vice-President  of  the  State  Union ;  was  a  delegate  to 
and  assisted  in  organizing  the  Xational  Union  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  each  Xational  meeting  since  that  time ;  has  served 
as  Secretary  or  President  of  his  home  local  continuously  since 
organization;  was  elected  President  of  the  Twelfth  Recording 
District  Union  three  times  in  succession,  and  when  the  Pittsburg 
County  Union  was  organized  .after  Statehood  of  Oklahoma,  was 
elected  President  and  re-elected  in  1909:  has  organized  locals 
in  home  district  and  taken  advantage  of  every  opportunity  to 
advance  the  cause  of  the  Union. 


378 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


STATK  OKKICIALS  A\D  KX-STATH  OFFICIAL,  COLORADO  DIVISION. 
1.  Geokge  B.  Lang,  State  President.         2.  J.  F.  Bkewbr,  Vice-President. 
3.  II.  S.  Stovall,  Ex-State  Secretary.       4.  Pardon  Sales,  State  Organizer. 
5.  Anriiuii  S.  Manning,  State  Treasurer. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  379 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES— OREGON,   SOUTH  CAROLINA, 
TENNESSEE. 

OREGON. 

SiKES,  F.  A.,  Milton,  Ore. — Has  charge  of  the  organizion 
work  in  Oregon;  joined  at  Walla  Walla,  Wash.,  when  the  Union 
first  made  its  appearance  in  that  State.  He  served  as  Secretary 
of  the  Walla  Walla  local  till  organized  at  his  home.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Washington  State  Convention,  June  15-16,  1908, 
when  that  State  was  organized.  At  the  close  of  this  convention 
the  work  of  organizing  Oregon  was  placed  under  his  supervision. 
He  was  subsequently  elected  by  the  locals  of  this  State  delegate 
to  the  National  Convention,  which  met  at  Fort  Worth,  Texas, 
September  i,  1908.  He  now  has  two  organizers  at  work  and 
hopes  to  have  Oregon  ready  for  a  State  organization  in  the  near 
future. 

SOUTH    CAROLINA. 

Ashley,  Joshua,  W.,  Honea  Path,  S.  C. — Has  been  President 
of  Anderson  County  Union  for  two  years,  and  Business  Agent 
since  first  joining.  He  organized  the  Anderson  County  local, 
but  his  work  has  been  largely  along  lines  of  arousing  locals  to 
greater  interest.  Has  never  sold  a  bale  of  cotton  since  the  Union 
fixed  the  price  at  15  cents.  He  urges  farmers  to  diversify,  and 
stop  raising  all  cotton  crops.  Was  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  that  adopted  the  present  constitution  of  the 
Union. 

Ashe,  J.  Frank,  McConnellsville,  S.  C. — Prominent  in  Alli- 
ance days ;  President  York  County  Farmers'  Union ;  member  of 
the  State  Executive  Committee,  Fifth  Congressional  District ; 
good  farmer  and  a  good  Union  worker. 

Anderson,  J.  Wade,  Laurens.  S.  C. — Identified  with  the  Alli- 
ance movement ;  County  Business  Agent  of  Laurens  County 
Farmers'  Union ;  good  business  ability. 


380  MISSION.   HISTORY  AXD  TIMES 

Anderson,  \\'.  L.,  Greenwood,  S.  C. — Ex-State  Executive 
Committeeman;  President  of  Greenwood  County  Union;  success- 
ful farmer ;  good  worker  in  the  Union  cause ;  has  done  some 
organizing"  work. 

Baker,  Lucius  L.,  Bishopville,  S.  C. — ^Member  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  of  South  CaroHna ;  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Sumpter  County-,  December  24,  1868;  was  echicated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  county ;  by  profession  is  a  farmer.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1907,  he  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  as  a  charter  member. 
In  January,  1908,  he  w-as  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Execu- 
tive Committee  from  the  Seventh  Congressional  District.  At 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  State  Union  at  Columbia,  he  was  re- 
elected. At  a  call  meeting  of  the  State  Union  held  at  Columbia, 
Januar\-  20,  1908,  he  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the  Legislative 
Committee  and  represented  his  State  L'nion  before  the  Agricul- 
tural Committee  of  Congress.  He  is  a  successful  farmer,  and  a 
man  of  superior  business  ability ;  quite  influential  in  the  counsels 
of  the  Union. 

Burns,  S.  A.,  Anderson,  S.  C. — Was  among  the  first  to  join 
the  Union  in  Anderson  County.  He  went  to  Columbia  and  con- 
ferred with  the  national  president  about  starting  the  work  in  his 
county.  The  national  president  returned  to  Anderson  with  him, 
and  they  together  organized  the  first  local  Union  in  the  State ; 
has  been  County  Secretary  for  two  terms ;  has  attended  State 
meetings  and  rallies  on  many  occasions. 

Brown,  W.  C,  Xewberry,  S.  C- — Is  a  charter  member  of  the 
first  local  Union  organized  in  Newberry  County ;  was  elected 
President  of  the  County  Union  when  organized  and  served  for 
two  terms,  declining  re-election  for  a  third  term ;  was  delegate 
to  the  first  State  meeting  after  his  county  was  organized,  and  was 
there  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee.  He 
has  done  his  full  duty. 

BoGGS,  John  T.,  Liberty,  S.  C. — A\'as  a  charter  member  of  the 
'Grange;  later  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance. 
When  the  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-Operative  Union  came 
along,  was  put  on  the  charter  and  was  soon  commissioned  Organ- 
izer ;  was  first  County  President  of  Pickens  County  Union ;  mem- 
ber of  the  first  State  Executive  Committee;  was  re-elected  at 
the  second  annual  meeting  of  the  State  L^nion  ;  has  written  many 
articles  for  various  papers. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  381 

Harris,  15.,  President  of  South  Carolina.  Pendleton,  S.  C. — 
Was  [)orn,  December  31,  1851.  at  Townville.  South  Carolina. 
He  attended  the  country  schools  for  a  short  while,  and  when 
twenty  years  old  went  to  school  for  six  months.  By  occupation, 
B.  Harris  is,  and  always  has  been,  a  farmer,  and  is  noted  for 
the  excellent  breed  of  live  stock  which  he  raises.  He  joined  the 
Farmers'  Uliion  soon  after  it  was  started  in  Anderson  County, 
and  was  elected  President  of  the  State  at  the  called  meetin.c^  held 
in  Columbia,  and  again  re-elected  at  the  annual  convention  in 
1907. 

Harris,  John  B.,  Westminster,  S.  C. — President  of  Cconee 
County  Union ;  has  aided  in  organizing'  and  building  two  ware- 
houses ;  has  done  some  organizing  work  and  otherwise  aided  in 
building  up  the  Union  in  his  State;  has  been  delegate  to  every 
annual  convention  since  State  was  organized. 

Hendricks,  J.  F.,  Liberty.  S.  C. — Organizer  in  the  Xorthern 
part  of  the  State;  has  organized  many  local  Unions;  has  been  a 
delegate  to  the  State  Convention  and  to  the  National  meeting 
held  in  Atlanta. 

Keitt,  Joseph  L.,  Pomaria.  S.  C. — ]\Iember  of  State  Execu- 
tive Committee;  born  April  i,  1857;  holds  diploma  from  the 
Virginia  [Military  Institute  and  the  Columbia  College  Law  School 
of  New  York.  The  latter  conferred  the  degree  of  L.  L.  B. ; 
joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  1889 :  was  President  of  County 
Alliance,  Lecturer  of  District  Alliance,  and  President  of  the  State 
Alliance ;  was  delegate  to  the  last  National  Convention  of  the 
Farmers'  I'nion  ;  takes  a  leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  organ- 
ization. 

Lambert,  J.  H..  ^NFarion,  S.  C. — [Member  of  the  .State  Execu- 
tive Committee.  Sixth  Congressional  District:  successful  farmer; 
old  Alliance  member;  has  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  his 
county,  who  know  him  well ;  has  done  considerable  organizing 
work  in  Marion  County  for  the  Farmers'  Union. 

AIahaffey,  [\L  A.,  Belton,  S.  C. — Joined  the  Union  at  the 
time  of  its  introduction  into  the  State  ;  was  a  delegate  to  the 
State  Union  when  organized ;  was  elected  State  Organizer  and  in 
that  capacity  organized  a  large  part  of  the  Northern  section  of 
the  State.     He  did  nmcli  to  lie]|)  l)uild  up  the  Union. 

Moore,  W.  C.  Greenville.  S.  C. — Ex-State  Business  Agent. 
He  was  sent  to  Europe  as  a  representative  of  the  L^nion  to  try 


382  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

to  establish  direct  trade  relations  with  the  spinners  of  England. 
He  served  as  Business  Agent  for  two  years. 

Parrott,  S.  Frank,  Columbia,  S.  C. — The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  a  native  of  upper  South  Carolina,  where  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  advancement  of  his  section.  He  joined  the 
Union  upon  .its  advent  into  Cherokee  County,  and  was  elected 
Secretary-Treasurer  when  the  County  Union  was  organized ;  was 
a  delegate  to  the  State  Union  when  the  charter  was  surrendered 
at  Columbia;  a  delegate  W'hen  the  State  Union  was  re-organized, 
and  a  fraternal  delegate  to  Georgia  State  Convention  at  Macon. 
He  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Union  in  South 
Carolina. 

Pickett,  J.  B.,  Seneca,  S.  C. — Prominent  in  Alliance  days  ; 
ex-member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee  of  the  South 
Carolina  Farmers'  Union. 

Presley,  S.  P.,  Due  West,  S.  C, — President  of  Abbeville 
County  Union;  good  Union  worker. 

Reid,  Joseph  Whitner,  Reidville,  S.  C. — ^He  was  born  in 
Reidville,  South  Carolina,  August  ii,  1862,  being  the  youngest 
son  of  Rev.  Robert  Harden  Reid,  a  pioneer  Presbyterian  min- 
ister. His  early  education  was  gained  in  the  Reidville  High 
School,  and  in  1887,  he  attended  Davison  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  June,  1882,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  leader,  and  from  September,  1900,  to  June,  1906, 
was  principle  of  the  Reidville  High  School  for  girls.  His  sym- 
pathies have  always  been  with  the  farmer  and  the  man  who  earns 
his  bread  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow.  It  was  natural  then,  that  he 
should  become  identified  with  the  Farmers'  Alliance.  In  1888 
he  w^as  elected  State  Secretary  of  the  Alliance,  and  the  fact  that 
he  served  in  this  capacity  for  thirteen  years  is  ample  testimony 
both  as  to  his  loyalty  and  ability.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  in  1907,  and  on  January  22,  1908,  was  elected 
State  Secretary.  He  is  an  accomplished  bookkeeper,  and  the 
Secretary's  books  are  models  of  neatness  and  correctness.  He  is 
also  editor  of  the  Carolina  Farmers'  Union  Sun,  a  paper  which 
is  an  influence  for  good  to  the  Union  in  its  territory. 

RiciiARDDS,  J.  G.,  Liberty  Hill,  S.  C. — Good  speaker;  has  done 
some  organizing  work  for  the  Union ;  is  now  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  it  was  mainly  through  his  work  in 
the  Legislature  that  the  lien  law  was  repealed  at  the  last  session. 


VI-  THE  farmers'   uniox.  383 

Stribling^  J.  C,  Pendleton.  S.  C. — For  sometime  a  member 
of  the  State  Executive  Committee ;  has  been  a  delegate  to  most 
of  the  State  Conventions ;  was  a.  delegate  to  the  National  Con- 
vention at  Little  Rock,  1907.  He  has  done  some  good  work 
as  a  representative  of  the  Farmers'  Union  News  Bureau. 

Wakefield,  T.  T.,  Anderson,  S.  C. — Joined  the  hrst  local  ever 
organized  in  the  State,  and  was  elected  President  of  it  at  the 
time;  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  first  County  Union  and 
later  President.  When  the  State  Union  was  organized,  he  was 
elected  Vice-President.  He  is  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  An- 
derson County  Warehouse,  the  largest  Union  warehouse  in  the 
country,  and  is  doing  all  that  he  can  to  keep  his  countv  in  good 
working  order. 

Watson,  J.  Bei.tox,  Anderson,  S.  C. — Good  speaker;  active 
worker ;  has  been  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 

TENNESSEE. 

Adams,  C.  C,  Sharon,  Tenn. — He  was  a  member  of  the  Agri- 
cultural Wheel  and  State  Lecturer  of  Tennessee  from  the  time 
of  its  organization  till  it  was  merged  with  the  Alliance ;  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Union  ever  since  it  was  introduced 
into  his  section  of  the  State.  Since  March.  1907.  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Lecture  Bureau  and  lectured  in  ^liddle  and  West 
Tennessee  :  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  last  two  State  meetings. 

Arnold,  W.  R.,  Pinson,  Tenn. — Was  a  charter  member  of  the 
first  Union  organized  in  Tennessee  and  has  been  at  work  in  the 
field  for  two  and  one-half  years.  He  has  organized  about  75 
local  L^nions  and  made  alx)ut  400  speeches ;  has  attended  the 
State  and  National  Conventions. 

Brooks,  T.  J.,  Secretary-Treasurer  Tennessee  State  Union, 
Atwood,  Tenn. — Author  of  a  defense  of  the  principles  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  and  of  future  dealing ;  was  born  in  Carroll 
County,  Tennessee ;  moved  to  Texas  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
where  he  worked  on  a  farm ;  returned  to  Tennessee  and  entered 
the  Southern  Normal  L"!  niversity ;  taught  school  three  years ; 
joined  the  Farmers'  Union  twenty-six  miles  from  home  and 
organized  a  local  Union  on  his  way  home.  At  the  meeting  of 
the  first  State  Union,  April,  1906,  he  was  elected  State  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer and  has  held  the  position  ever  since.  He  has 
attended  as  delegate  everv   National  meeting,   and  has  been  on 


MISSION.    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 


I'ltOMINENT   r.MO.N    WOKKIOUS. 

1.  F.    \V.    Wilson,    Coloriuli),    Mpmber    Sfato    Kxpcntivo    Coniiiiiltoo. 

'J..  T.    J.    Swi'.KNV.    Color.-Hli).    Member    Stiite    lOxeeiitive    Commiiree. 

3.  F.    I.    ricjiiiAKT,   Ciildi'iKli).    Member   Slate    Kxecutive   ('f)mmittee. 

4.  Pauls     I  iLNitKitsoN.     f'aliforniM.     lOx-X'ice     rri'sident     of    Kansas. 

.".   .1.  M.  Knkllank,  CnlirDrnia.  I'.iisiiiess  Ajrent. 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  386 

many  important  coir.mittees.  In  his  work  for  the  Union  lie  has 
traveled  more  than  lo.ooo  miles  and  made  500  speeches,  many 
of  which  have  been  before  State  and  National  Unions,  where  he 
was  invited  to  speak.  Brooks  is  an  able  speaker  and  writer,  and 
his  articles  are  read  from  Maine  to  California.  His  style  is 
strong-  and  elegant  and  never  fails  to  catch  the  attention  of  the 
reader.  His  address  on  "Future  Dealing,"  February,  1908,  was 
printed  in  the  Congressional  Record,  and  for  that  reason  is  a 
rare  compliment  to  Brooks'  ability.  He  played  a  considerable 
part  in  the  making  of  the  new  ritual.  He  is  one  of  a  committee 
of  seven  appointed  at  New  Orleans  to  confer  with  the  business 
men  of  the  city  to  secure  co-operation  in  maintaining  equitable 
prices  for  cotton.     Brooks  is  a  strong  young  man. 

Babb,  J.  G.,  Ex-State  Lecturer.  Michic,  Tenn. — Has  been  a 
good  organizer :  has  organized  in  Texas.  Arkansas  and  Tennes- 
see. The  total  number  of  Unions  organized  by  him  will  reach 
200.  He  has  traveled  thousands  of  miles  and  made  hundreds  of 
speeches. 

CoRBETT,  W.  S.,  Alamo,  Tenn. — Has  been  a  good  organizer. 
He  has  been  instrumental  in  getting  in  about  1,200  members;  has 
attended  several  of  the  State  meetings ;  was  elected  President  of 
Crockett  County  Union,  1908,  and  re-elected,  1909. 

Cunningham,  T.  W.,  Troy,  Tenn. — Member  State  Executive 
Committee ;  was  elected  to  this  position  at  the  last  State  meeting. 

Epperson,,  T.  N.,  Chairman  of  State  Exective  Committee, 
Humboldt,  Tenn. — Joined  the  Farmers'  Union  soon  after  its 
advent  into  Tennessee,  and  has  devoted  the  principal  part  of  his 
work  to  Madison  County ;  is  President  of  the  County  organiza- 
tion, also  Secretary  of  his  local. 

Griffin,  J.  F.,  Memphis,  Tenn. — Is  editor  of  The  National 
Union  Farmer,  a  publication  which  has  done  much  to  advance 
the  cause  of  the  Union.  He  is  also  ex-manager  of  the  Tri-State 
Purchasing  Agency.  He  has  the  elements  of  a  successful  busi- 
ness man,  and  is  prospering;  is  a  physician  by  profession,  al- 
though his  time  is  now  devoted  to  other  things ;  is  a  hard  and 
energetic  worker,  and  is  widely  known  in  Tennessee. 

Gibson,  Miss  Lola,  Tennessee. — Delegate  to  last  State  meet- 
ing, where  she  served  on  important  committees.  She  was  elected 
delegate  to  the  National  Convention. 


386  MISSION,    HISTORY   AXD   TIMES 

Hale^  a.  D.,  ]^lcMinnville,  Tenn. — Organized  first  local  in 
Warren  County  and  aided  in  forming  the  County  Union,  which 
has  built  a  Union  telephone  line.  He  also  organized  the  first 
two  locals  in  Franklin  County ;  is  well  known  and  successful 
farmer. 

Hudson,  Dr.  H.  P.,  ex-Chairman  State  Executive  Committee, 
Brownsville,  Tenn. — Has  long  been  a  factor  in  farmers'  move- 
ments ;  is  now  a  member  of  the  Grange  and  was  a  member  of  tlie 
Wheel  and  the  Alliance ;  was  Grange  editor  of  his  county  paper 
for  a  number  of  years ;  has  been  delegate  to  the  National  Con- 
ventions and  an  attendant  at  every  State  Convention:  an  earnest 
worker. 

HiGGS,  Homer  L.,  Memphis,  Tenn. — Ex-editor  of  the  National 
Union  Farmer;  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  and  member 
of  the  committee  to  revise  the  ritual.  For  quite  a  while  Higgs 
was  a  hard  worker  for  the  Union. 

Jarrell,  G.  G.,  Johnsonville,  Tenn. — Was  born  and  raised  in 
Humphrey  County,  Tennessee;  has  worked  hard  for  the  success 
and  promotion  of  the  Union  since  becoming  a  member ;  has 
traveled  about  3,000  miles  and  made  a  number  of  speeches ;  is  a 
member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  District  Executive 
Committee,  and  County  Executive  Committee. 

Montgomery,  J.  E.,  State  President  Tennessee,  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  National  Union.  Gleason,  Tenn. — Was  born  in 
Weakly  County,  Tennessee,  April  29,  1850,  and  lives  today  on  the 
farm  that  he  was  born  on.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the 
county.  His  father  and  two  older  brothers  enlisted  in  the  Con- 
federate Army  and  served  during  the  war,  the  youngest 
brother  returning  home  ]\Iay  23,  1805.  He  was  the  oldest  at 
home,  looking  after  the  family  for  four  years  as  best  he  could. 
He  received  a  good  education  for  the  times ;  taught  in  the  public 
schools ;  is  a  member  of  the  Masons ;  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
his  county  for  twelve  years.  He  delights  in  country  life,  wishing 
to  be  free  from  the  noise  and  dust  of  the  city ;  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  and  the  Agricultural  Wheel,  and  re- 
mained in  both  organizations  till  they  died.  He  joined  the 
Farmers'  Union,  October,  1904,  and  was  elected  President  of  the 
Tennessee  Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  April,  1905 ;  re- 
elected 1906;  re-elected  1907,  and  re-elected  1908.  He  is  the 
only  State  President  Tennessee  has  ever  had.     He  was  elected 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  387 

Vice-President  of   the    National    Union,    1906;   re-elected,    1907, 
and  aji:ain  in   1908.     He  is  a  successful  and  progressive  farmer. 

McDowell,  John  H.,  Union  City,  Tenn. — Was  born  on  a 
farm  in  Gibson  County,  Tennessee,  in  1843,  ^"d  served  through 
the  Civil  War ;  was  for  five  years  editor  of  the  official  organ  of 
the  Alliance ;  has  served  three  terms-  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature,  and  one  term  as  State  Senator.  He  is  now  Major- 
General  of  the  Confederate  Veterans  of  Tennessee.  He  joined 
the  Farmers'  Union  upon  its  introduction  into  Tennessee,  and  is 
now  serving  as  President  of  his  County  Union  and  Chairman  of 
the  County  Executive  Committee.  He  was  elected  a  delegate  to 
the  National  Convention  of  1909,  at  a  recent  session  of  the  State 
Convention.  He  was  President  of  the  State  Alliance  of  Tennes- 
see for  five  years.  He  was  editor  of  the  Toiler,  the  official  organ 
of  the  State  Wheel  of  Tennessee. 

Newton,  J.  D.,  Jackson,  Tenn. — Has  been  prominent  in  civil 
and  political  matters ;  has  been  editor  of  some  of  the  leading 
daily  papers  in  his  State;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  in  January, 
1906,  and  has  been  active  in  the  work  ever  since.  At  the  meeting 
in  Jackson,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Control  of 
the  Federated  Warehouse  System,  and  is  now  Chairman.  At  a 
recent  session  of  the  Tennessee  State  Union  he  was  elected  a 
delegate  to  the  next  National  Convention.  He  is  a  good  business 
man. 

Perkins,  W.  G.,  Stantonville,  Tenn. — Soon  after  joining  the 
Union  he  was  appointed  Organizer  for  his  home  county,  Mc 
Nairy;  was  elected  President  of  his  County  Union  and  has  served 
in  that  capacity  for  three  years ;  was  one  of  the  number  to  whom 
the  charter  for  the  State  Union  of  Tennessee  was  granted ;  has 
been  delegate  to  most  of  the  State  meetings  and  has  served  his 
State  for  three  consecutive  terms  as  a  meniber  of  the  Executive 
Committee.  He  is  now  a  memter  of  the  Legislative  Committee 
of  Tennessee. 

Rhodes.  Lucian  M.,  Vice-President  of  Tennessee  State 
Union,  Huntingdon,  Tenn. — Was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Ten- 
nessee, October  13.  1874.  He  has  lived  in  the  country  on  a  farm 
all  of  his  life,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  teach- 
ing. He  joined  the  Farmers'  Union,  May  11,  1907,  and  began 
the  work  of  lecturing  and  organizing,  September  30th,  of  the 
same  year.  He  was  elected  President  of  his  local  L^nion  the 
night  he  was  initiated,  and  was  shortly  afterward  made  Organ- 


388  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

izer  and  Lecturer  of  his  county.  He  was  sent  out  by  the  State 
Union  to  lecture  through  counties  of  the  State,  and  in  his  work 
he  initiated  between  800  and  900  members.  He  is  now  serving 
as  Vice-President  of  his  State. 

Rhodes,  W.  H.,  Kerrville,  Tenn. — Member  of  the  State  Ex- 
ecutive Committee.    Elected  in  1908,  and  re-elected  in  1909. 

Tarrant,  J.  D.,  Henning,  Tenn. — Member  of  the  State  Ex- 
ecutive Committee.    Elected  during  the  last  State  Convention. 

Upton^  J.  T.,  Organizer  and  Lecturer  of  Tennessee,  Halls, 
Tenn. — Was  born  in  Ozark  County,  Missouri,  July  7,  1865,  and 
moved  with  his  father  to  the  Indian  Territory,  1879.  He  joined 
the  Farmers'  Union  at  Allen,  Okla.,  October,  1903,  He  was 
sent  by  Newt.  Gresham  to  the  State  of  Tennessee,  May,  1904,  for 
the  purpoe  of  beginning  the  work  of  organizing  the  State.  He 
assisted  Newt.  Gresham  in  organizing  that  State  Union,  April  4, 
1905.  He  was  elected  Organizer  and  Lecturer  of  the  State  of 
Tennessee  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  two  years.  He  has 
been  a  hard  worker  and  devoted  his  time  and  energy  to  the  up- 
building of  the  Union.  He  is  the  founder  of  a  Farmers'  Union 
College  in  his  State.    I  believe  Upton  is  a  good  man.     * 

Webb,  A.  A.,  Ripley,  Tenn. — Is  a  native  of  Tennessee ;  was  a 
member  of  the  Wheel  and  Alliance ;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union 
at  the  time  of  its  introduction  into  the  State ;  was  a  delegate  to 
the  first  State  Convention,  where  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  has  served  as  Secretary  of  the  same 
ever  since  its  organization ;  has  helped  to  organize  a  warehouse 
and  a  LTnion  bank. 

West,  B.  G.,  Memphis,  Tenn. — Manager  of  a  big  cotton  com- 
pany ;  expert  cotton  man ;  was  prominent  member  of  the  Alliance. 
West  is  one  of  the  best-informed  men  in  the  United  States  on  the 
subject  of  handling  cotton. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  389 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES— TEXAS,   WASHINGTON. 

TEXAS. 

Albritton,  J.  C,  Yoakum,  Texas. — Was  born  at  Snow  Hill, 
Ala.,  July  3,  1861 ;  moved  to  Texas  in  1877;  was  County  Lecturer 
of  Navarro  County  Farmers'  Alliance  for  one  term;  joined  the 
Farmers'  Union,  April,  1903 ;  was  made  Assistant  State  Lecturer 
by  Newt.  Gresham  shortly  after  joining  the  order;  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  National  Cotton  Committee  and  Cotton 
Agent  for  the  State  of  Texas,  to  look  after  the  cotton  tor  the 
Union  at  the  Port  of  Galveston ;  was  elected  Secretary  of  the 
State  Executive  Committee  in  1907.  I  think  he  is  a  broad-minded 
man. 

AiRHART,  J.  S.,  Organizer  and  Lecturer,  Yoakum,  Texas. — 
Has  traveled  8,000  miles ;  made  320  speeches ;  organized  73 
locals;  re-organized  11,  and  has  aided  in  building  9  warehouses; 
been  delegate  to  two  State  meetings  and  delegate  to  the  National 
meeting  at  Little  Rock.  He  is  still  faithfully  working  and 
lecturing  for  the  Union. 

Armstrong,  J.  L.,  Kyle,  Texas. — Commissioned  Organizer  by 
Newt.  Gresham,  June,  1904 ;  has  traveled  many  thousand  miles ; 
organized  about  250  local  Unions ;  made  something  like  1,200 
speeches ;  helped  to  organize  16  warehouses,  and  is  one  of  the 
oldest  active  organizers  continuously  in  the  work  in  the  State  of 
Texas.  He  has  lectured  and' organized  in  73  counties  of  the 
State. 

Adams,  Jesse,  Emory,  Texas. — One  of  the  Original  Ten ;  is 
farming  in  Rains  County;  he  never  did  much  organizing,  pre- 
ferring to  stay  at  home.  He  is  still  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Union. 

Allison,  H.  H.,  Abilene,  Texas. — One  of  the  early  organizers, 
and  delegate  to  the  first  State  meeting  at  Mineola. 


390  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

Bradford,  Buell,  Colorado,  Texas. — Joined  the  Union,  Sep- 
tember, 1903,  and  soon  afterwards  began  organizing,  and  is  still 
a  commissioned  Organizer ;  is  serving  his  county  as  Lecturer ;  was 
a  delegate  to  the  National  meeting  at  Texarkana,  1905,  and  to 
the  Memphis  meeting,  1908;  has  been  active  in  helping  to  organ- 
ize and  in  helping  to  build  warehouses. 

Burgess,  G.  W.,  Trinity,  Texas. — One  of  the  first  Organizers. 
He  pushed  the  work  into  Louisiana  and  Mississippi ;  did  good 
work,  and  was  elected  State  Organizer  of  Mississippi,  from 
which  ofifice  he  afterwards  resigned. 

BuTTRAM,  W.  O.,  Myrtle  Springs,  Texas. — Began  the  organ- 
isation work  almost  at  the  beginning.  He  worked  faithfully  in 
Texas  for  one  year^  then  went  to  Arkansas,  where  he  associated 
himself  with  J.  S.  Turner. 

BowEN,  R.  D.,  Paris,  Texas. — Has  been  a  worker  ever  since 
he  became  a  member.  He  is  much  interested  in  the  building  of 
warehouses,  and  has  done  considerable  work  to  enlarge  the  con- 
sumption of  cotton. 

Calvin,  E.  A.,  Houston,  Tex. — Was  born  in  Boone  County, 
Missouri,  February  26,  1875 ;  came  to  Texas  in  March,  1889, 
and  located  on  a  farm  twelve  miles  west  of  Paris,  in  Lamar 
County,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  elected  President  of  the 
Farmers'  Union.  His  parents  were  very  poor,  and  his  early 
education  was  neglected.  He  received  fourteen  months'  school- 
ing before  he  was  21 ;  afterwards  he  worked  his  way  through  a 
nine  months'  course  in  Grayson  College.  At  the  age  of  27  years 
he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  was  twice  re-elected.  It 
was  largely  through  his  eflforts  that  the  elements  of  Agriculture 
and  Horticulture  were  added  to  the  studies  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  State ;  joined  the  Union  early  after  it  was  organized,  and 
was  unanimously  elected  Vice-President  at  the  Fort  Worth  meet- 
ing, February,  1905  ;  August,  1905,  was  elected  President  at  the 
Waco  meeting,  and  again  elected  in  Dallas  in  1906;  August,  1907, 
he  retired  from  all  official  connection  with  the  Union,  but  has 
continued  in  the  work.  During  his  terms  as  President,  he  origi- 
nated, organized,  and  established  the  first  cotton  school  ever  heard 
of,  and  successfully  conducted  two  of  these  schools,  one  in  Dallas, 
in  1906,  and  one  in  Houston,  in  1907;  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to 
the  Conference  of  Cotton  Growers  and  Spinners  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  March,  1906,  and  again  to  the  International  Cotton  Con- 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.       .  391 

gress  af  Vienna,  Austria,  1907.  At  this  congress  he  secured  an 
agreement  from  the  spinners  assembled  from  all  parts  of  the 
world,  to  do  away  with  the  arbitrary  rule  of  deducting  six  per 
cent  from  the  gross  weight  of  cotton  to  cover  tare,  and  to  deduct 
only  actual  tare.  He  became  General  Manager  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  Cotton  Company,  and  successfully  managed  its  affairs 
through  the  panic  of  1907.  He  is  noted  as  a  strong  speaker  and 
an  orator,  which  talents  he  has  devoted  to  the  interest  of  the 
Union  in  Texas  and  other  States.  Wherever  he  has  spoken, 
people  listen  to  him  with  marked  attention. 

Chapman^  B.  F.,  Dallas,  Tex. — The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  twenty-nine  years  ago,  and  began  his  work  with  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  organization  of  the 
State  of  Texas.  He  joined  as  a  charter  member  of  Wilmer 
local,  and  was  elected  Secretary  at  the  time.  In  January,  1905, 
was  elected  County  Lecturer  of  Dallas,  and  a  delegate  to  the 
State  meeting  at  Fort  Worth.  In  July,  1905,  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  State  meeting  held  in  Waco,  where  he  was  made  a 
member  of  the  Constitutional  Committee.  At  this  meeting  he 
was  elected  State  Secretary-Treasurer ;  was  re-elected  August, 
1906.  In  August,  1907,  he  was  elected  State  Lecturer  and  Or- 
ganizer, and  filled  this  position  for  one  term,  refusing  to  allow 
his  name  to  be  used  at  the  1908  meeting.  He  is  fully  imbued 
with  Union  principles,  and  the  work  he  has  done  has  been  bene- 
ficial. 

Cook,  E.  J.,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Tex. — The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  a  native  of  Titus  County,  Texas,  and  at  the  time  of  organizing 
the  first  local  Union  by  Newt.  Gresham,  Cook  was  a  farmer  and 
a  practicing  physician.  He  joined  the  L'^nion  in  its  infancy  and 
taking  a  commission  from  Gresham,  came  to  Georgia  to  assist  in 
the  work.  He  did  considerable  organizing  in  Cherokee  and 
Forsyth  counties.  In  1905,  he  began  organizing  in  Lamar 
County,  Alabama,  as  Organizer  for  that  State.  He  was  elected 
Secretary-Treasurer  when  the  Alabama  State  Union  was  organ- 
ized, in  which  capacity  he  served  three  terms,  or  until  the  spring 
of  1908,  when  he  resigned.  Served  one  year  on  the  National 
Board. 

Childers.  J.  W.,  Abilene,  Tex. — Came  into  the  organization 
in  its  early  days,  and  has  been  a  faithful  worker  ever  since ;  being 
a  man  of  much  experience  and  means,  he  has  been  able  to  do 
good  work  in  his  section  of  the  State.     He  is  the  author  of  the 


392 


MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


ST\Ji:   oriKIALS,   KI-.NTrcKV   DIVISION,  AND  PROMINENT  A 

WORKERS. 

1.  Robert  Johnson,  Kentucky,  Tresldent  Slate  Union. 

2.  R.     li.     lUuNKTT,     Kentucky,     Seeretary-Troasiiror. 

3.  AuBUiOY    I-.    Wilson,    Kentucky,    Vlce-rresident. 

4.  E.  J.  Cook,  Alabama,  Ex-State  Secretary-Treasurer. 
T>.  CiiAKLKS  li.  Gay,  Alabama,  Prominent  Worker. 


l.AI'.A.MA 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  393 

famous  "Childers  Bill."     Has  attended  as  delegate  many  conven- 
tions. 

Culver,  L.  E.,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Tex. — Has  been  a  most  faithful 
Lecturer  and  Organizer  almost  from  the  beginning  of  the  work. 
He  is  a  hard  worker  and  believes  in  the  work  he  is  doing,  as  all 
true  members  do.  He  is  always  ready  to  go.  forth  to  battle  for 
the  right  when  the  roll  of  the  faithful  is  called. 

Cliffton^  M.  a.,  Haskell,  Tex. — Ex-member  of  State  Execu- 
tive Committee ;  first  President  of  Haskell  County  Union ;  organ- 
ized several  local  Unions ;  devoted  much  time  to  building  the  or- 
ganization in  his  State. 

CoLwiCK,  A.  M.,  Dallas,  Tex. — Was  one  of  the  early  Organ- 
izers in  Texas ;  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee at  the  organization  of  Texas  State  Union,  holding  the  offict 
one  year.     A  strong  writer ;  one  of  the  first  editors  in  the  Union. 

Cochran,  W.  T.,  Emory,  Tex. — Is  one  of  the  Original  Ten. 
He  is  farming  in  Rains  County.  He  did  some  organizing  in  the 
early  days,  going  into  Louisiana. 

DoRNRLASER,  O.  F.,  Clcburne,  Tex. — Was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania of  Dutch  parentage,  but  has  been  a  resident  of  Texas  for 
fifty-two  years.  Has  spent  entire  life  farming,  and  aiding  in 
movements  to  help  the  farmer;  joined  the  Farmers'  Club  in  1866, 
the  Grange  in  1871,  the  Farmers'  Alliance  in  1882,  and  helped 
to  organize  the  first  State  and  the  National  Farmers'  Union. 
Was  Chairman  of  the  Constitutional  Committee,  serving  on  it 
with  Newt.  Gresham.  Is  an  earnest  lecturer  and  worker  for  the 
Union.  Plis  daughter  was  State  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the 
Texas  State  Farmers'  Alliance  for  two  terms.  Dornblaser  is  a 
Duchman,  and  a  good  one. 

Donaldson,  T.  W.,  Point,  Tex. — One  of  the  Original  Ten.  He 
is  a  sturdy,  quiet,  home-loving  farmer.  He  never  engaged 
actively  in  the  work. 

Edmondson,  Joe  E.,  Fort  Worth,  Tex. — Was  born  in  Stone 
County,  Arkansas,  February  5,  1877,  ^^^  fifteen  days  later  lost 
his  best  friend — his  mother.  Was  reared  by  his  mother's  mother, 
and  when  nine  years  of  age  removed  to  Texas,  where  he  has 
resided  since.  Joined  the  Union  in  1903,  and  has  done  good 
work   for  the  organization   in   the   State ;  served  two  vears   as 


394  MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

County  Lecturer  of  Anderson  County,  working  as  an  Organizer 
for  four  years;  served  as  Assistant  State  Lecturer  for  one  year, 
and  at  the  State  Convention  in  1908  was  elected  State  Lecturer 
and  Organizer;  has  done  effective  work  in  fighting  bucket  shops 
in  Texas.  It  would  break  Joe's  heart  if  he  had  to  quit  talking  for 
the  Farmers'  Union. 

Evans,  F.  V.,  Fort  Worth,  Tex. — His  work  has  been  that  of 
lecturing  rather  than  organizing ;  however,  he  has  organized  more 
than  100  Unions ;  was  delegate  to  all  meetings  of  the  State  Union 
up  to  1907.  He  has  organized  warehouses,  gins  and  oil  mill 
companies.  He  is  the  author  of  two  small  booklets,  "The  Farm- 
ers' Union  and  Its  Principles,"  and  "The  Cotton  Warehouse." 

Fant,  G.  W.,  Jefferson,  Tex. — Joined  the  Union  March, 
1904;  went  to  lecturing  in  August;  has  organized  in  Oklahoma, 
Mississippi,  Virginia,  and  carried  North  Carolina  into  statehood ; 
is  now  Assistant  State  Lecturer  for  Texas.  On  invitation,  has 
visited  and  spoken  in  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  and  South  Carolina ; 
has  worked  almost  exclusively  for  the  Union  since  he  joined;  is 
at  present  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  Texas ;  is  one  of  the 
hard  workers  and  faithful  Union  men,  doing  all  that  he  can  to 
advance  the  cause  of  Unionism  in  his  and  other  States.  There 
are  few  harder  workers  than  Fant. 

Fields,  M.  C,  Lott,  Tex. — He  has  devoted  much  of  his  time 
to  lecturing  in  his  and  adjoining  counties;  was  elected  President 
of  his  county  five  years  ago,  and  has  held  the  office  continuously 
ever  since ;  has  attended  every  State  Union  and  every  conference 
in  his  State.    He  is  One  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  Texas. 

Gresham^  Newt.,  Founder  of  the  Farmers'  Union. — Mrs. 
Lutie  Gresham  Templeton,  daughter  of  Hon.  Newt.  Gresham, 
and  the  adopted  daughter  of  the  Union,  in  a  brief  biographical 
sketch  of  her  distinguished  father,  gave  a  number  of  facts  from, 
which  this  sketch  is  prepared.  The  birthplace  and  earlier  life 
is  gathered  from  the  daughter's  story  of  her  father.  Hon.  Newt. 
Gresham  was  born  in  Lauderdale  County,  Alabama,  February  20, 
1858,  just  two  years  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War. 
Already  the  war  sentiment  was  abroad  in  the  land,  and  trouble- 
some times  were  ahead  for  the  people  of  the  South  in  general, 
and  the  Gresham  family  in  particular.  During  the  four  years  of 
war  through  which  Newt.  Gresham,  as  a  very  young  child  passed, 
his  family  suffered  much,  as  did  other  families  around  them. 
The  able-bodied  men  enlisted  in  the  army,  and  left  the  making  of 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  395 

a  living  to  the  women  and  Children.  Newt.  Gresham  was  too 
young  to  lend  any  aid.  After  the  close  of  the  war  the  Gresham 
family,  impoverished  by  the  war,  moved  to  Kauffman  County, 
Texas,  where  they  hoped  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  the  war, 
and  to  again  get  a  start  in  life.  Hardly  had  the  family  become 
settled  in  Kauffman  County  before  both  father  and  mother  died, 
leaving  young  Newt.  Grestiam,  who  was  barely  ten  years  of  age, 
to  battle  with  the  stern  realities  of  life.  He  had  but  few  advan- 
tages, and  fewer  school  facilities.  Such  schools  as  there  were, 
were  poor  and  far  between,  and  Newt.  Gresham,  really  too  young 
to  work,  had  to  forego  the  advantages  of  early  schooling.  His 
daughter  says  of  him  that  "It  was  undoubtedly  during  this  time 
that  the  foundation  of  his  character  was  laid.  The  strength  de- 
veloped in  these  early  struggles  helped  him  in  shaping  and  lead- 
ing America's  greatest  organization  for  farmers."  He  never  had 
an  opportunity  to  attend  public  schools,  but  such  education  as 
he  received  was  the  result  of  his  own  efforts.  He  studied  and 
worked  and  read,  until  his  store  of  general  knowledge  was  as 
ample  as  that  of  many  very  well  educated  people.  In  May,  1877, 
Newt.  Gresham,  then  nineteen  years  of  age,  went  from  Cedar 
Hill,  Kauffman  County,  to  Granbury,  Hood  County,  Texas.  At 
the  time  of  leaving  home  he  had  but  seven  dollars,  and  with  a 
part  of  this  he  purchased  a  ticket  over  the  railroad  from  Terrell 
to  Fort  Worth.  Arriving  at  Fort  Worth,  he  found  that  there 
were  no  railroads  from  that  point  to  Granbury,  and  not  having 
money  enough  to  hire  a  private  conveyance,  he  walked  the  entire 
distance,  forty  miles.  At  Granbury  he  hired  out  to  a  farmer 
as  a  common  farm  hand,  for  which  service  he  received  the  sum  of 
thirteen  dollars  per  month  and  board.  Here  for  some  time  he 
continued  to  work  in  the  capacity  of  a  farm  hand.  He  married 
Miss  Ida  Peters,  of  Granbury,  Texas,  in  January,  1881.  She  is 
still  living.  Three  children,  all  living,  was  the  result  of  this 
marriage.  Mrs.  Lutie  Gresham  Templeton,  the  oldest  of  his 
children,  was  adopted  as  the  daughter  of  the  National  Union  at 
the  convention  held  in  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  September  19,  1907. 
Newt.  Gresham  was  an  indefatigable  worker,  and  a  firm  be- 
liever in  the  rights  of  the  farming  class.  He  spent  his  life  in 
labors  for  the  farmer,  and  gave  himself  as  a  sacrifice  in  their 
behalf.  Joining  the  Alliance  the  very  first  opportunity  that 
offered  itself,  he  was  the  first  organizer  commissioned  to  go 
beyond  the  State  lines  of  Texas  to  push  the  work  of  organizing 
the  Farmers'  Alliance.     As  an  organizer  of  the  Alliance  he  began 


396  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

in  Lauderdale  County,  Alabama,  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  spent 
a  year  in  the  State,  and  when  he  left  there  were  fifteen  hundred 
sub-Alliances.  From  Alabama  he  went  as  an  organizer  into 
the  State  of  Tennessee.  He  remained  in  Tennessee  but  a  few 
months,  ov/ing-  to  the  failing  health  of  his  wife,  whom  he  had 
carried  with  him.  Leaving  Tennessee,  he  returned  to  his  home 
in  Texas,  where  he  spent  the  time  in  efforts  to  make  the  Alliance 
a  success.  He  entered  the  newspaper  field  at  his  old  home  in 
Granbury,  in  January,  1896,  removing  from  there  to  Greenville, 
Texas,  in  1899,  where  he  continued  to  edit  a  paper;  January, 
1902,  removed  from  Greenville  to  Point,  Rains  County,  Texas, 
where  he  succeeded  in  getting  nine  other  men  with  himself  to 
organize  the  first  successful  local  Farmers'  Union.  Soon  after 
securing  a  charter  for  this  local  Union  from  the  State  of  Texas, 
he  was  made  General  Organizer,  and  in  the  face  of  bitter  opposi- 
tion, he  pushed  the  work  on  a  high  and  ennobling  plane.  Newt. 
Gresham  died  April  10,  1906,  after  an  illness  of  five  days.  He 
was  taken  sick  while  organizing  the  Tennessee  State  Union,  the 
State  from  which  he  had  had  to  retire  in  1889  because  of  the 
illness  of  his  wife.  The  foundation  he  laid  was  so  stable  and 
the  plans  so  equitable  that  the  Union  has  grown  and  prospered 
to  an  extent  that  he  never  dreamed  it  would  reach.  Those  who 
know  us  best  are  the  ones  from  whom  the  true  history  of  our  lives 
can  be  gathered.  Those  with  whom  we  have  been  associated 
through  the  sacredness  of  home  ties  understand  and  appreciate 
the  nobleness  of  our  character,  or  despise  our  traits  of  meanness. 
For  their  appreciation  or  their  scorn  comes  from  knowledge 
gained  through  actual  contact.  No  nobler  tribute  has  been  paid 
to  the  worth  of  Newt.  Gresham  than  that  by  his  daughter  when 
she  says,  "My  father  was  honest,  sincere,  self-sacrificing,  always 
seeing  the  good  points  in  a  fellow  man,  and  never  giving  a 
thought  to  the  bad.  He  was  a  loving  husband  and  father.  Our 
earnest  wish  was  that  he  might  have  lived  longer,  so  that  he 
could  rejoice  in  seeing  the  great  work  he  started  going  on  so 
faithfully  and  helping  all  who  belong  to  the  great  organization." 

Grubbs,  V.  W.,  Greenville,  Tex. — Was  one  of  the  early  work- 
ers. He  was  not  an  Organizer,  but  did  much  work  along  the 
lines  of  industrial  education ;  counted  it  to  be  the  greatest  of  all 
the  principles  of  the  order.  He  is  now  president  of  the  Grubbs' 
Self-Help  College,  of  Campbell,  Hunt  County,  Texas. 

Garner,  John  T.,  Gray  Rock,  Tex. — Was  one  of  the  early 
workers.    He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Com- 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  397 

niittee  at  the  organization  of  Texas  Union ;  served  two  years  as 
Business  Agent ;  is  now  engaged  in  farming  at  Gray  Rock,  Frank- 
lin County,  Texas. 

HoRTON,  Miss  Nellie,  Ft.  Worth,  Tex. — Chief  Clerk  in  the 
office  of  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Texas  State  Union ;  was  born 
in  Coffman  County,  Texas,  October  14,  1886.  She  entered  the 
employment  of  the  Farmers'  Union  under  Newt.  Gresham,  Gen- 
eral Organizer,  at  Point,  on  the  3d  day  of  May,  1904,  one  month 
after  having  graduated  from  the  Dallas  Business  University.  She 
is  toda}',  in  point  of  seniority,  the  oldest  employe  at  the  State 
Union  headquarters  in  Texas,  having  held  her  position  through 
several  changes  of  administration.  In  August,  1906,  she  was 
elected  Treasurer  of  the  Texas  State  Union,  and  was  the  first 
woman  to  hold  a  State  office  in  the  Union.  As  a  mark  of  their 
appreciation,  the  Union  people  of  Texas  presented  her  with  a 
handsome  watch  at  the  meeting  of  the  State  organization  in 
August,  1908, 

Hampton^  Sam  J.,  Frisco,  Tex. — "Uncle  Sam,"  as  he  is  called, 
is  a  Union  leader  in  Texas,  and  has  done  much  to  build  up  the 
order  in  that  State.  He  was  born  in  Fannin  County,  Texas, 
October  22,  1861,  and  as  he  says,  began  to  farm  at  8  years  of 
age,  making  twenty-one  crops  on  the  same  farm.  He  was  an 
officer  of  the  Alliance  at  18 ;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  in  1904 ; 
has  been  active  ever  since  in  organizing  and  lecturing.  He  is  a 
champion  of  the  "Pooling  and  Pledging  Plan"  as  outlined  in  his 
"Members'  Manual."  He  is  noted  for  his  ability  as  an  orator,  and 
when  he  speaks,  he  carries  things  by  storm. 

HoLLOWAY,  L.  B.,  Sansaba,  Tex. — Lecturer  and  Organizer. 
He  has  done  a  great  deal  of  lecturing  in  his  State.  He  is  a 
worker. 

Jackson,  C.  J.,  Belton,  Tex. — One  of  the  early  workers,  not 
as  an  organizer,  but  as  a  man  of  means,  who  has  given  liberally 
of  his  means  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause.  He  is  one  of  the 
largest  farmers  of  his  county,  and  Vice-President  of  a  Belton 
bank,  which  is  the  farmers'  friend.  One  of  the  old  Alliance 
members. 

Jackson,  M.  G.,  Romney,  Tex. — Was  one  of  the  early  workers. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Texas  Legislature  for  the  last  two 
terms,  and  is  doing  good  work  there  for  his  class — the  farmers. 


398  MISSION,   HISTORY   AND  TIMES 

Jameson,  J.  D.,  Whitney,  Tex. — Was  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  Executive  Committee  in  1905;  served  one  year;  organized 
a  number  of  local  Unions. 

King,  Bob_,  Point,  Tex. — Was  one  of  the  first  Organizers  of 
the  Farmers'  Union.  Soon  after  the  first  Union  was  organized, 
he  went  into  Delta  County,  Texas,  with  Gresham.  Instead  of  a 
sketch  of  King,  I  prefer  to  let  him  tell  of  the  work  just  as  it 
was :  "We  worked  seven  days  and  nights  without  organizing 
a  single  Union.  We  both  being  almost  financially  embarrassed, 
I  suggested  that  we  go  home  and  attend  to  our  own  business.  He 
said,  'No,  I  know  that  we  will  succeed.'  After  which  we  organ- 
ized three  Unions  in  ten  days,  which  hardly  paid  our  expenses. 
So  you  see  we  had  to  live  very  economically.  We  generally 
bought  Vienna  sausage  for  our  dinner,  and  did  the  best  we  could 
at  nights.  We  sat  under  an  oak  tree  after  working  three  days 
and  nights  in  vain.  I  looked  at  Mr.  Gresham  and  said,  'I  think 
we  had  just  as  well  go  home  and  go  to  work,  as  the  farmers  have 
been  faked  by  former  organizations  of  this  kind  for  several  gen- 
erations, and  they'  will  not  be  faked  any  more  by  such  stuflf  as 
this.'  He  threw  his  can  away,  looked  at  me  and  said,  'Bob,  I  am 
sorry  you  do  not  understand  the  principles  of  the  Farmers'  Union 
more  than  you  do.  I  feel  that  God  has  endowed  me  with  power 
to  do  something  for  suffering  humanity,  and  I  expect  to  spend 
the  remainder  of  my  life  in  this  work,  let  it  be  what  it  may.  I 
had  rather  lay  down  under  this  tree,  die  and  leave  my  family  in 
despair  than  to  go  my  way  to  success  and  this  Union  go  as  the 
Farmers'  Alliance  did.'  It  was  at  this  moment  I  saw  the  picture 
of  honesty  in  that  great  man's  face.  It  was  there  I  gained  faith, 
strength,  knowledge  and  power.  So  I  devoted  my  whole  time 
in  this  work  six  months  or  more,  in  Texas,  after  which  Mr. 
Gresham  called  me  up  over  the  phone  and  said,  'Bob,  you  have 
stayed  with  me  through  the  dark  ages  of  this  terrestrial  sphere, 
and  now  I  desire  to  put  you  in  the  ripest  field  in  the  United 
States.'  I  immediately  obeyed  orders,  making  my  way  into  the 
Indian  Territory,  where  I  met  with  great  success ;  organizing 
about  one  hundred  Unions ;  employed  about  twenty-eight  local 
organizers,  all  of  whom  did  great  work," 

Laas,  H.,  Brookshire,  Tex. — Was  born  at  Cat  Springs,  Austin 
County,  Texas,  on  the  15th  day  of  January,  1859,  and  lived  in 
that  county  until  the  year  1896,  when  he  moved  with  his  family 
to  Waller  County,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  served  his 
neighbors  as   road   overseer,   district   school  trustee,   and   county 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION.  399 

comniissioncr.  When  his  county  was  ori^anizcd  int(j  the  Farm- 
ers' Union,  he  was  elected  President  of  his  local,  to  which  office 
he  was  elected  twice.  When  his  County  Union  was  orj^^anized, 
he  was  elected  County  Business  Agent.  He  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity until  the  first  refjular  election,  when  he  was  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  County  Union,  which  office  he  occupied  three  con- 
secutive terms.  In  August,  1907,  he  was  elected  as  a  member  of 
the  State  Executive  Committee,  and  re-elected  in  August,  1908. 

Lane,  J.  P.,  Vice-President  Texas  State  Union,  Gallatin,  Tex. 
— Has  traveled  several  thousand  miles  in  the  interest  of  the 
Union;  made  numerous  speeches  and  organized  several  local 
Unions;  delegate  first  national  meeting  at  Texarkana ;  has  been 
Chaplain  of  his  local  Union,  County  Union  and  State  Union ;  was 
elected  Vice-President  of  State  Union,  1907,  and  re-elected,  1908. 
He  is  President  of  the  State  Home  Canners'  Association,  and 
also  President  of  the  County  Farmers'  Institute.  Lane  is  trust- 
worthy. 

LouDERMiLK,  W.  T.,  Comanclic,  Tex. — Member  National 
Board  of  Directors ;  was  born  in  Bartow  County,  Georgia ;  moved 
to  Texas  while  a  boy,  in  November,  1883 ;  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Comanche  County;  joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance  as  a  charter 
member;  acted  as  Secretary  the  first  year,  then  as  President  for 
two  years;  also  as  County  Secretary,  and  in  1887  was  elected 
County  President,  serving  up  to  1894.  In  1893  was  elected  Vice- 
President  of  the  State  Alliance,  then  served  as  a  State  official  so 
long  as  there  was  a  State  Alliance  in  Texas.  When  the  Farmers' 
Union  was  organized,  joined  it  one  week  before  the  County  Union 
was  organized,  at  which  time  he  was  elected  County  President 
and  delegate  to  State  meeting,  which  was  called  to  meet  at 
Mineola,  Texas,  February,  1904,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
the  first  State  Union.  At  which  time  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  has  remained  on  said  committee 
up  to  August,  1908,  with  the  exception  of  one  year.  Loudermi^k 
is  of  German  descent  and  is  a  prosperous  farmer.  Was  elected 
member  of  the  National  Board  of  Directors  at  the  last  National 
Convention. 

Lewis,  W.  D.,  Lampassas,  Tex. — Was  one  of  the  pioneers  in 
the  work.  He  is  a  forceful  and  eloquent  speaker ;  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee  in  1906,  serving  one 
term ;  has  been  delegate  to  several  State  and  National  conven- 
tions. 


400 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


siATi;  i;.\i:ruTivi.:  committkk,  Kentucky  division. 

1.  L.  Thomas.  2.  M.  B.  Trapp.  3.  John  Grady. 

4.  J.  L.  Gant.  5.  Samuel  H.  Jonks. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION,  401 

Landers,  A.  P.,  Sulphur  Sprins^s.  Tex. — Has  been  a  member 
almost  from  the  bctj^innniii^  of  the  L'nioii  in  the  State.  He  was 
selected  in  1904  to  visit  the  cotton  mills  of  the  L'nitcd  States  with 
a  view  of  etTecting  a  closer  relation  of  the  jiroducer  and  the  man- 
ufacturer. He  collected  iiiucli  xahiahk-  information,  being  the 
first  to  begin  the  work  which  resulted  in  several  conferences  of 
the  producers  of  cotton  and  the  spinners  of  the  world.  Has  served 
continuously  as  County  Secretary  for  some  time.  *• 

Luce,  J.  R.,  Grai^eland,  Tex. — Was  a  member  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee,  1905,  and  again  1908.  Served  as  secretary  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  1906;  is  now  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature.  He  did  good  work  on  the  Executive  Committee, 
and  in  his  connection  with  the  Union  has  done  much  organizing 
and  lecturing. 

Murray,  Hon.  X.  C,  I'^irst  \'ice- President  Texas  State  Union. 
— The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Quebec,  Canada,  March 
18.  185 1,  where  he  lived  with  his  parents  until  the  fall  of  1864, 
when  he  moved  to  lUitTalo.  X.  V.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  began 
life  in  the  city  of  I'ufifalo,  where  he  worked  until  1869,  moving 
that  year  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  lived  in  Cleveland  until  August, 
1885,  when  he  removed  to  the  State  of  Texas,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  ]\rurra\-  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Quebec, 
Canada,  and  ButTalo,  X.  Y.,  receiving  a  common  and  graded 
school  education,  of  which  he  has  made  s])lendid  use  since.  He 
has  been  a  prominent  member  of  many  organizations  looking  to 
the  betterment  of  laborers  and  the  advancement  of  farmers'  inter- 
ests. Before  moving  to  the  State  of  Texas  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  a  prominent  labor  organization  in  the 
eighties.  In  Texas  he  joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance  and  was  one 
of  the  hrst  local  secretaries  of  his  county.  He  stayed  with  the 
Alliance  until  it  disbanded.  He  joined  the  Farmers'  Cnion  when 
the  I'nion  was  in  its  infancy,  and  immediately  t(K)k  a  prominent 
part  in  Union  alYairs.  Murray  was  elected  the  first  State  Presi- 
dent of  the  Texas  Division  of  the  Farmers'  Union  at  Mineola, 
Texas,  February  18,  1904,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  suc- 
ceeded by  E.  .\.  Calvin.  The  position  held  bv  the  State  President 
of  Texas  at  the  time  was  equal  to  that  of  being  Xational  Presi- 
dent. L'nder  the  administration  of  Murray  the  organization  was 
begun  in  many  of  the  Southern  States.  Murray  is  now  engaged 
in  farming  near  Kingston,  Texas,  and  is  a  -^rm  believer  in  the 
final  triumph  of  right  over  wrong. 
26 


402  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

Miller^  W.  S.,  Lake  Creek,  Tex. — Was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Rhea  County,  Tennessee,  and  when  7  years  of  age  began  follow- 
ing a  plow.  Served  in  the  Confederate  army  throughout ;  was  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  twice  wounded.  Moved  to  Delta 
County,  Texas,  in  1872.  Joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  and  after- 
wards became  a  member  of  the  Union.  Was  at  the  organization 
of  the  Texas  Union  at  Mineola  in  February,  1904,  and  has  never 
missed*-  a  State  meeting.  Was  twice  elected  a  member  of  the 
National  Board  of  Directors,  and  declined  a  third  election.  Is 
an  earnest  believer  in  the  principles  of  the  Union,  and  a  consistent 
worker  for  its  interests.  The  last  National  Convention  presented 
him  with  a  gold  medal  for  efficient  service. 

Montgomery^  J.  E.,  Skidmore,  Tex. — Was  born  in  San  Mar- 
cos, Texas,  and  was  educated  at  the  Coronal  Institute,  San  Mar- 
cos ;  became  a  charter  member  of  the  first  local  organized  in  Cald- 
well County,  February,  1905 ;  served  for  two  years  as  County 
President;  was  elected  President  of  Lockhart  District,  composed 
of  six  counties,  largest  District  Union  in  the  State;  was  elected 
member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  August,  1907;  re- 
elected in  1908,  and  is  now  serving  as  chairman  of  committee. 

McCoNKEY,  J.  L.,  Wichita  Falls,  Tex. — Member  State  Execu- 
tive Committee;  born  in  Illinois  in  1866,  and  removed  to  Wichita 
Falls,  Texas,  in  1888.  When  Newt.  Gresham  started  the  Union 
he  joined  at  once.  Was  made  Organizer  for  Northwest  Texas, 
and  has  traveled  hundreds  of  miles  in  his  work.  Was  elected 
first  President  of  his  County  Union,  and  still  holds  that  office. 
Is  General  Manager  and  Secretary  of  the  Farmers'  Union  Ware- 
house Company,  of  Witchita  Falls.  Is  a  successful  farmer  and 
hard  worker  for  the  Union's  interests. 

Montgomery,  J.  D.,  Gordon,  Tex. — Was  with  the  organiza- 
tion almost  from  the  beginning.  He  was  a  most  excellent  Organ- 
izer ;  was  elected  State  Organizer  at  the  organization  of  the  State 
Union,  and  was  twice  re-elected.  As  State  Organizer  of  Texas, 
he  commissioned  many  organizers  to  do  work  in  the  various 
States;  was  at  one  time  legislative  committeeman. 

Morris,  J.  B.,  Munday,  Tex. — Was  chairman  of  the  Original 
Ten.  He  did  not  do  much  organizing,  being  engaged  in  farming 
to  such  an  extent  that  he  could  not  well  leave  his  home.  He 
has  recently  moved*  to  West  Texas.  Ex- Vice-President  of  the 
State  Union. 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  403 

Meitzer,  E.  O.,  Hattiesville,  Tex. — Is  a  most  faithful 
woiker,  and  has  been  a  faithful  worker  for  farmers'  organizations 
for  many  }'ears. 

AlcCoRMicK,  B.  F.,  Texarkana,  Tex. — Has  always  been  a  most 
faithful  worker.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in  horticulture,  being 
an  authority  on  this  subject  in  his  portion  of  the  State. 

Mitchell,  A.  A.  (Uncle  Tobe),  Sherman,  Tex. — Has  always 
been  a  faithful  and  efficient  worker  for  the  cause.  He  is  original 
in  his  mode  of  expression,  and  a  very  interesting  talker.  One  of 
the  old  Alliance  members. 

Neill^  J.  D.,  Fort  Worth,  Tex. — President  of  the  Texas  State 
Union;  was  born  near  Prescott,  Ark.,  in  1857;  moved  to  the 
State  of  Texas  in  1893 ;  was  elected  State  Lecturer  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Alliance  of  Texas  in  1893,  which  office  he  held  for  three 
terms;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  in  1904;  was  elected  County 
Lecturer  at  the  time ;  was  elected  State  Lecturer  at  Waco,  in 
August,  1905 ;  was  unanimously  re-elected  in  Dallas  in  1906.  He 
was  elected  President  of  the  Texas  State  Union  at  the  Fort 
Worth  meeting  in  1907,  and  again  unanimously  re-elected  at  the 
1908  meeting.  D.  J.  Neill  received  but  little  education,  perhaps 
the  entire  time  that  he  attended  school  would  not  exceed  twelve 
months.  In  person,  D.  J.  Neill  is  tall  and  striking,  and  as  an  ex- 
pounder of  Union  principles  has  few  equals.  He  is  a  descendant 
of  Tennessee  ancestry,  his  father  having  moved  from  that  State 
to  Arkansas  many  years  ago.  Here  he  served  as  a  member  of 
the  legislature.  One  of  his  grand-uncles  was  a  colonel  in  the 
Texas  army,  and  was  killed  during  the  struggle  with  Mexico. 
Neill  devotes  his  entire  time  to  Union  work;  is  an  enthusiastic 
advocate  of  warehouses,  and  has  fought  the  bucket  shops  of  his 
State  day  and  night  for  the  last  two  or  three  years,  or  longer. 

Nabors,  a.  M.,  Kosse,  Tex. — Active  Lecturer  and  Organizer; 
has  held  many  official  positions  in  his  county   (Limestone). 

Pyle,  O.  p.,  Dallas,  Tex. — Ex-National  President  of  the 
Farmers'  Union,  elected  at  Texarkana,  1905 ;  was  born  in  Frank- 
lin County,  Arkansas,  December  13,  1867.  In  1874  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Texas,  where  they  settled  near  Ladonia, 
Fannin  County.  The  family  moved  to  Hunt  County  in  1877, 
where  young  Pyle  worked  on  a  farm  until  he  was  21.  O.  P. 
Pyle  received  his  education  in  the  common  school  of  Hunt 
County,  and  taught  for  several  vears  after  leaving  school.     He 


iOi  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

was  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  while  teaching,  and  was 
editor  of  an  Alliance  paper  at  Mineola.  He  joined  the  Farmers' 
Union  December.  1902.  As  soon  as  he  joined  the  Union  he 
began  to  plan  the  making  of  the  organization  a  business  one, 
rather  than  political.  Long  before  the  constitution  was  written 
or  the  charter  obtained,  Gresham  and  Pyle  had  been  friends  and 
co-workers  for  many  years.  Pyle  gave  practically  aU  of  his  time 
to  the  work  of  the  organization  from  the  time  he  became  a  mem- 
ber till  the  spring  of  1908.  He  went  before  the  Board  of  Ten 
at  their  meeting  in  Emory,  Texas,  in  September,  1903,  and  asked 
them  to  call  a  meeting  to  organize  a  State  Union,  'which  was 
done  for  February  14,  1904,  at  Mineola,  Texas ;  was  elected 
presiding  officer  of  the  Mineola  meeting,  and  presided  over  the 
meeting  till  organization  was  effected.  Was  elected  at  this  meet- 
ing a  member  of  the  State  Committee,  and  was  made  chairman. 
\\'as  again  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Committee  at  Ft. 
Worth  in  February,  1905.  Began  the  publication  of  the  National 
Co-Operator  at  ]\Iineola,  Texas,  December,  1904,  continuing 
its  publication  till  April,  1908.  Moved  the  paper  to  Dallas  Sep- 
tember, 1906.  Was  the  presiding  officer  at  the  organization  of 
the  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  Indiahoma,  and  Georgia  State  LTnions, 
all  in  1905.  Elected  National  President  at  Texarkana,  Decem- 
ber, 1905.  Pyle  has  done  some  hard  work  for  the  Farmers' 
Union.  Resigned  in  March,  1906.  Made  speeches  for  the  cause 
in  many  States.  Is  still  a  member,  but  not  now  activelv  engaged 
in  the  work.  Believes  the  real  work  (which  is  to  make  farming 
a  real  business  profession)  has  just  begun. 

Pearson,  J.  E..  Dodd  City,  Tex. — Did  good  work  in  the  early 
days  in  Fannin  County,  and  is  still  doing  good  work.  ''By  their 
fruit  ye  shall  know  them."     He  is  President  of  his  District  Union. 

Park,  J.  W.,  Mineola,  Tex. — Was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the 
work,  and  is  still  a  worker.  .He  has  done  much  organizing  in  his 
?ection  of  the  State,  and  has  never  failed  to  respond  when  duty 
called. 

Pound.  T.  J.,  Point,  Tex. — One  of  the  Original  Teti ;  is  a 
quiet,  unassuming  farmer.  He  did  not  do  active  work  for  the 
order,  but  has  always  been  a  faithful,  conscientious  member. 

I'ark,  Mii/iox.  Dallas.  Tex. — Ex-editor  of  llic  Mercury:  was 
sn  active  worker  of  the  .\lliance,  and  an  able  writer.  He  is  an 
cx-Confedcratc  and  takes  great  interest  in  the  old  veterans. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  405 

Radford.  Peter,  Whitt,  Tex. — Has  been  a  continuous  worker 
in  the  order  almost  from  the  time  of  its  beginning- ;  has  organ- 
ized several  local  Unions  and  made  many  speeches ;  served  two 
years  as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee ;  has  made  about 
600  speeches ;  has  been  Lecturer  and  President  of  his  County 
L'nion,  and  Assistant  State  Lecturer,  and  is  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  his  county  warehouse. 

Rhodes,  O.  H.,  Emory,  Tex. — One  of  the  Original  Ten  ;  never 
did  any  organizing,  but  was  the  financial  man  of  the  ten.  He 
is  a  successful  lawyer  at  Emory,  Tex. 

Rhodes,  L.  L.,  Grand  Saline,  Tex. — A  worker  almost  from 
the  beginning.  "The  gentleman  from  Van  Zandt"  is  one  of  the 
A^ery  best  and  most  eloquent  speakers  in  the  State.  He  loves  the 
word  "Union,"  and  has  given  a  great  portion  of  his  time  to 
L^nion  work  for  many  years.     Ex-member  of  the  Legislature. 

Rector,  John  R.,  Texas. — Was  one  of  the  early  workers.  He 
was  at  the  head  of  the  fruit  and  truck  department  of  the  Texas 
State  U^nion. 

Summers,  Hatton  W.,  Dallas,  Tex. — Is  a  self-made  man, 
having  been  raised  on  a  farm  in  Lincoln  County,  Tennessee.  He 
worked  his  way  through  school  and  into  the  legal  profession.  He 
was  twice  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Dallas  County,  and 
twice  elected  President  of  the  District  and  County  Attorneys' 
Association  of  Texas.  While  holding  this  office,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  constant  warfare  with  the  gambling  element,  and  while 
yet  in  office,  drafted  a  drastic  anti-gambling  bill,  which  he  suc- 
ceeded in  having  made  a  law.  It  was  while  engaged  in  an  effort 
to  pass  this  law  that  he  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Texas 
Union,  which  was  seeking  to  have  the  old  anti-bucket  shop  law 
of  that  State  so  amended  as  to  be  effective.  -  He  was  employed 
Ly  Farm  and  RaiicJi,  an  agricultural  paper,  and  his  services  ten- 
dered the  Union  for  that  purpose.  After  the  bill  was  drafted, 
he  went  to  the  State  capital  to  take  charge  of  the  fight  for  its 
passage.  .After  one  of  the  most  memorable  contests  ever  waged 
in  that  State,  extending  through  almost  the  entire  session,  and 
in  which  not  only  the  Union,  but  practically  all  the  moral  forces 
of  the  State  w^ere  enlisted,  the  bill  was  passed,  and  the  bucket 
shops  quite  the  State  without  even  testing  the  law.  Summers 
represented  the  Farmers'  Union  before  the  general  agricultural 
committee  of  the  X^ational  Congress  in  February,  1909.  His 
speecli  was  unanswerable. 


406 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


FARMERS'    UNION    EDITORS. 

1.  C.  P.  AouicoLA,  Alabama,  Editor  Farmers'  Union  Ouide. 

2.  J.  K.  AuMSTRONG,  Oklahoma,  Editor  Advocate  and  Union  Review. 

.3.   Miss  Mbah  M.  Mkuritt,  Arkansas,  PMltor  Sentinel. 

4.   Jno.    I{.   Cnovcii,  Alabama,   Associate   Editor  Farmers'   Union  Ouide. 

5.  W.  D.  Crews,  Illinois,  Editor  Union  Farmer. 


OF   THE   farmers'    UNION,  407 

Smith,  C,  Fort  Worth,  Tex. — Joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance 
in  1889,  taking-  an  active  part  in  the  same;  served  several  terms 
as  County  Secretary ;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  as  soon  as  it 
was  org^anized,  and  has  been  an  active  worker  ever  since ;  served 
as  local  Secretary,  and  afterward,  in  1907,  was  elected  State 
Secretary;  was  re-elected  in  1908.  Smith  understands  the  work 
in  his  State. 

Smith,  Aaron,  Ft.  Worth,  Tex. — Was  born  and  raised  on  a 
farm.  The  printing-  business  and  newspaper  profession  held 
fascinations  for  him,  and  at  the  age  of  23  he  gave  up  the  law 
to  edit  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Times-Review.  In  1899  he  sold  the 
Times-Reviezv,  and  purchased  the  Weatherford  Review,  which 
he  edited  with  signal  success  for  nine  years.  On  April  i,  1908, 
he  assumed  the  editorship  of  the  National  Co-Operator  and  Farm 
Journal  of  Texas. 

Satterwhite,  Lee^  Teague,  Tex. — Worker  in  the  Union 
cause  in  his  State.  As  delegate  to  his  State  Convention,  1908, 
he  did  some  splendid  work  that  was  of  special  benefit  to  the  State 
at  large ;  was  delegate  to  last  National  Convention ;  is  an  ex- 
member  of  Texas  Legislature. 

Shaw,  N.  A.,  Texarkana,  Tex. — Has  always  been  a  faithful 
worker.  He  attends  most  all  State  and  National  Conventions. 
He  is  one  of  the  largest  cotton  planters  in  the  entire  State.  He 
is  now  very  prominently  mentioned  for  the  office  of  Governor. 

Sloan,  J.  E.,  Madisonville.  Tex. — Did  excellent  work  in  the 
pioneer  days.  He  is  not  now  prominently  engaged  in  the  work, 
but  is  a  faithful  member. 

Taylor^  Tom  B.,  Goldbusk,  Tex. — Was  born  in  Alississippi, 
May  8,  1859;  moved  to  Texas  1882;  joined  the  Farmers'  Alliance 
1884;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union  January,  1903;  was  commis- 
sioned Organizer  October,  1903;  has  traveled  more  than  15,000 
miles,  making  speeches  and  organizing  local  Unions ;  has  been 
President  of  his  County  Union ;  President  of  his  District  Union ; 
Business  Agent  of  his  District  Union  ;  delegate  to  every  State 
meeting  except  one ;  delegate  to  every  National  meeting  except 
one;  has  been  Assistant  State  Lecturer  for  three  and  one-half 
years,  and  has  been  a  member  of  important  committees  at  every 
State  and  National  meeting  which  he  has  attended.  Tom  is  train- 
ing his  children  to  talk  for  the  Farmers'  Union. 


408  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

Templetox,  Mrs.  Lutie  Gresham.  Wellington,  Tex. — Eldest 
daughter  of  Newt.  Gresham;  was  born  June  15,  1889,  at  Gran- 
bury,  Texas.  She  received  her  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Granbury,  1897-1900;  Greenville.  1901  ;  Point,  1903;  Emerson 
College,  1904,  and  Add-Ran-Jarvis  College,  1907.  In  August. 
1907,  she  attended  the  State  Convention  of  the  Farmers'  Union 
at  Forth  \\*orth,  Tex.,  where  she  was  warmly  received  by  the 
members  of  the  Union  and  adopted  the  "daughter"  of  the  Texas 
State  Union.  She  was  invited  to  attend  the  National  Conven- 
tion at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  in  September,  and  was  there  adopted 
Daughter  of  the  National  Union.  In  October  following  she  at- 
tended the  State  Convention  in  Georgia,  where  she  was  kindly 
received  by  the  Georgia  people.  Oh  February  12,  1908,  she  was 
married  at  her  home,  in  Point,  Texas,  to  Mr.  R.  H.  Templeton, 
of  Wellington,  Tex.,  where  she  now  lives.  She  conducts  the 
"Home  Talks"  Department  of  the  Union  Nezvs,  and  is  assistant 
editor  of  the  Wellington  Times.  She  takes  great  interest  in  the 
Union,  and  is  devoting  much  of  her  time  to  the  end  that  the  or- 
ganization that  her  father  foimded  may  live  forever. 

Turner.  J.  S.,  Cado  ]\Iills,  Tex. — One  of  the  Original  Board 
of  Ten,  founders  of  the  Farmers'  Union ;  went  to  organize  the 
State  of  Arkansas  under  privileges  granted  by  the  board.  He 
commenced  the  work  on  the  13th  day  of  September,  ic;o3.  The 
first  Organizers  that  he  appointed  were  H.  N.  Bulgier  and  A. 
Turner.  The  i8th  of  September,  1903,  Turner  established  head- 
quarters at  Hope,  and  appointed  and  commissioned  within  less 
than  two  months  thirty-six  Organizers,  of  which  the  most  suc- 
cessful were  J.  Guy  Smith  and  A.  B.  Jones. 

Thompson,  J.  W.,  Huckabay,  Tex. — Joined  the  I'nion  in  1903; 
began  organizing  from  that  time,  and  organized  about  250  local 
Unions ;  made  about  500  speeches ;  has  attended  several  State 
meetings.     His  work  has  been  well  done. 

Terry,  Bud,  Hillsboro,  Tex. — Was  an  early  Organizer.  He  is 
yet  engaged  in  the  work  as  Assistant  State  Lecturer. 

Wep.p.,  Henry  E.,  Chillicothe,  Tex.— Styled  the  "Plow-Boy 
Orator  of  the  Plains  of  West  Texas ;"  was  born  near  Nashville, 
Ark.,  in  the  year  1868.  The  father  of  Henry  E.  Webb  was 
known  as  the  "Boy  Sergeant"  of  Company  C,  First  Georgia 
Regulars,  during  the  Civil  Wiir.  Young  Webb  received  a  com- 
mon  school   education  in   the  countrv   schools  of  his   State ;  has 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  409 

been  a  member  of  the  Wheel,  and  a  lecturer  of  the  Farmers' 
Alliance;  joined  the  Farmers'  Union,  August,  1904;  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  State  Union,  1905 ;  delegate  to  National  Union,  De- 
cember, 1905;  was  appointed  Assistant  Secretary;  was  County 
Lecturer  of  Lamar  County  for  two  years ;  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Union  at  Little  Rock,  1907 ;  delegate  irom  Baylor 
County  to  Memphis  meeting,  January,  1908.  At  each  of  these 
conventions  he  has  held  important  positions  on  committees.  He 
has  devoted  much  time  to  lecturing  in  Texas,  Arkansas,  and 
Oklahoma.  He  has  traveled  much  in  the  interest  of  the  Union, 
spending  practically  all  his  time  in  working  for  it.  Webb  is  a 
splendid  speaker,  and  is  known  throughout  Texas  as  the  "Plow- 
boy  Orator."  \\'herever  he  goes,  large  crowds  gather  to  listen 
to  his  strong  and  telling"  speeches.  Lately  he  has  been  doing 
some  very  effective  work  in  the  Panhandle  section  of  Texas. 
Webb  never  fails  to  respond  when  called  upon  to  carry  the  doc- 
trine of  L'^nionism  into  new  territory  or  to  go  to  revive  a  section 
where  enthusiasm  is  waning.  His  powers  of  speech  make  his 
work  effective.  He  is  much  in  demand  as  speaker  for  picnic  occa- 
sions, because  of  the  force  and  carrying  qualities  of  his  voice, 
for,  as  he  says,  "it  is  like  a  fog-horn." 

Wells,  C.  W.,  Madisonville,  Tex. — First  Sergeant-at-Arms  of 
the  National  Union;  was  appointed  Organizer  soon  after  joining, 
and  organized  some  of  the  hardest  counties  in  Texas ;  was  dele- 
gate to  the  first  Texarkana  meeting,  where  he  was  elected 
Sergeant-at-Arms ;  attended  every  State  meeting  up  to  the  time 
of  the  organization  of  the  National  L'nion ;  has  been  active  in 
organizing  warehouse  companies.  He  has  traveled  about  15,000 
miles,  and  has  been  a  good  worker. 

Watson,  Stanley,  now  of  Tucson,  Ariz.— Was  a  faithful 
worker  while  he  remained  in  Texas,  being  one  of  the  brightest 
young  men  in  the  movement.  On  account  of  ill  health,  he  moved 
to  Arizona  in  1907.  He  is  an  editor  and  a  good  writer;  delegate 
to  many  conventions. 

W'heeler,  J.  A.,  Moody,  Tex. — Was  a  pioneer,  who  is  still  in 
the  harness ;  served  two  years  as  Vice-President  of  the  State 
Union,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  State  Executive  Committee. 
He  is  a  favorite  with  the  L'nion  people  of  Texas. 

Webb,  James  C,  Red  Springs.  Tex. — One  of  the  faithful  Or- 
ganizers of  Texas,  and  has  done  some  good  work.     He  has  trav- 


410  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

eled  throughout  his  section  of  Texas,  where  he  made  many 
speeches,  which  has  been  productive  of  much  good  to  the  cause. 
He  is  still  actively  at  work  under  the  supervision  of  the  State 
Lecturer. 

WASHINGTON. 

Atkinson,  N.  B.,  Waitsburg.— Ex-President  Washington 
State  Union;  was  born  in  Missouri,  January  15,  1859.  His 
father,  a  farmer,  emigrated  to  California  in  1869,  where  young 
Atkinson  attended  the  public  schools  until  sixteen  years  of  a^e, 
when  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  help  support  the  family.  In 
1879,  N.  B.  Atkinson  moved  to  the  Territory  of  Washington  and 
took  a  homestead ;  he  has  been  farming  ever  since ;  married  July 
19,  1891,  to  Miss  Margaret  Hodgen,  to  whom  nine  children  have 
been  born,  five  boys  and  four  girls.  He  lives  on  his  farm  four 
miles  from  Waitsburg,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his 
State.  He  is  a  big,  broad-minded,  level-headed  gentleman ;  a 
man  whose  advice  can  be  followed  with  profit.  It  is  possible  that 
the  Farmers'  Union  would  not  have  been  organized  in  the  Inland 
Empire  today  had  it  not  been  for  N.  B.  Atkinson,  Joel  Wood  and 
H.  D.  G.  Cox.  Mr.  Atkinson  has  recently  resigned'  as  State 
President ;  the  main  cause  of  his  resignation  is  the  delicate  health 
of  his  wife.  Having  a  high  ideal  of  right,  he  felt  that  it  would 
not.be  proper  to  hold  the  place  without  devoting  more  time  to 
the  work  than  it  w^as  possible  for  him  to  do  without  neglecting 
his  family  and  his  business.  He  is  a  wealthy  farmer,  farming 
1,000  acres  of  land  near  his  home. 

Cox,  H.  D.  G.,  Walla  Walla,  Wash.— Was  one  of  the  first 
members  of  the  Union  in  his  State.  Working  with  others,  he 
aroused  interest  in  the  organization  in  Washington  through  a 
great  mass  meeting  at  Waitsburg.  Helped  to  organize  locals  in 
Walla  Walla,  Columbia,  and  Garfield  Counties,  in  Washington ; 
was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  at  Pullman,  and  was  there 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  in  Fort  Worth.  Is 
Vice-President  of  the  Walla  Walla  local,  and  State  Organizer 
for  Oregon.  Was  a  member  of  the  committee  that  smashed  the 
sack  and  warehouse  trust,  and  secured  from  the  railroads  the 
privilege  of  building  railroads  anywhere  along  the  line.  Walla 
^^^alla  local  subscribed  $1,500  to  secure  the  National  Convention 
for  1909.  He  has  rented  his  farm,  and  will  devote  his  entire 
time  to  the  interests  of  the  Union. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  411 

Crow,  L.  C,  Palouse,  Wash. — He  is  of  that  sturdy,  purpose- 
ful type  that  has  made  the  far  Northwest  great  and  rich ;  was 
born  in  Johnson  County,  Indiana,  November  3,  1851,  and  crossed 
the  great  Western  plains  with  his  father's  family  in  1853,  settling 
in  Lane  County,  Oregon.  He  grew  to  manhood  there,  attend- 
ing school  about  three  months  in  the  year,  and  working  on  the 
farm  the  rest  of  the  time.  At  the  age  of  18  entered  an  Oregon- 
college,  from  which  he  graduated  at  the  age  of  23.  Was  married 
the  year  of  his  graduation,  and  became  a  teacher  in  his  alm4 
mater.  In  1878  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Washington, 
and  for  twenty  yearg  was  a  pioneer  teacher  in  the  schools  of 
that  county.  Served  two  terms  as  State  Senator.  Ten  years 
ago  gave  up  teaching  and  applied  himself  to  farming,  at  which  he 
made  a  success.  Joined  the  Union  when  the  organization  first 
entered  the  State ;  aided  in  organizing  States  of  Washington  and 
Idaho ;  was  appointed  State  President  of  Washington  to  fill  un- 
expired term  of  N.  B.  Atkinson.  Is  earnest  worker  for  the  or- 
ganization, and  is  constantly  doing  all  he  can  to  advance  its 
interests. 

Cross,  A.  D.,  St.  Andrews,  Wash. — Was  born  in  Washington 
County,  \''irginia,  in  1870;  attended  common  and  high  school 
until  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when  he  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, which  profession  he  followed  successfully  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1905  moved  to  Washington ;  after  teaching  one  term 
of  school  at  St.  Andrews,  \\^ash.,  he  accepted  the  position  of 
postmaster  at  that  place.  He  became  an  active  worker  in  the 
Farmers'  Union  from  the  time  the  first  local  was  organized  in 
the  community.  On  organization  of  the  State,  he  was  elected 
State  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  is  still  filling  that  office  in  a  very 
satisfactory  manner.  The  finances  of  Washington  are  well  man- 
aged bv  the  Secretary-Treasurer. 

Crouch,  J.  A.,  Waitsburg.  Wash. — A  newspaper  man  who 
has  been  a  strong  advocate  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 

Day.  R.  J.,  Ilo,  Idaho. — ^lembcr  of  the  State  Executive  Com- 
mittC'^  of  Washington.     Elected  when  State  Union  was  organized, 

Elmore,  A.  G.,  Pullman.  Wash. — State  Organizer  of  the  States 
of  W^ashington  and  Idaho ;  was  born  in  Jack  County,  Texas, 
November  24.  1881 ;  moved  with  his  father  to  Indian  Territory 
in  1890,  where  he  grew  up  with  few  school  advantages.  His 
schoolinc  consisted  of  about  a  twelve-months  course  in  the  com- 


412 


MISSION,   HISTORY  AND  TIMES 


EDITORS  AND  EX-EDITOUS. 
S.    I'^KANK   rAiciioi-i',   South   CjirDlliiii,    lOx-Erlltor  Farmers'    Union    Siii). 
II.    II.    Stai.lauk,    ((klnhnniii,    lOx-IOditor    Farmers'    Union    Advocate. 

a.   Aaiion  S.Mri'ii,  'l"cx;is,  l^x-lCdilor  National  Co-oi>erutor. 

4.   A.   TI.   ('ATllKits.  Al,'il)!inin,   Editor   ('iiioii    Farmer  and   Messenger. 

Ti.    Mil. AS  N.  .Tciil.ssoN,  Color.'ido,   I^x-I'dilor  Diridf  Faniirr. 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  413 

men  schools  of  Oklahoma,  and  llierefore  his  educati(jn  has  been 
obtained  largely  by  his  own  efforts.  His  father  dyinji^  in  the  year 
1900,  he  was  left  to  support  -his  mother  and  two  younj^er  brothers. 
In  November,  1907,  he  was  sent  to  Washington  as  State  r)rgan- 
izer  by  the  National  Board  of  Directors,  and  in  June,  1908,  he 
had  succeeded  in  organizing  a  membership  of  some  seven  thou- 
sand. Elmore  has  obtained  a  large  experience  by  rubbing  up 
against  many  dififerent  kinds  of  peo])le  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
all  of  which  has  created  confidence  in  himself.  He  is  a  great 
worker  for  the  riiioii,  and  never  lets  an  opportunity  pass  to  do 
something  that  will  be  helpful  and  beneficial  for  the  cause.  He 
is  strong  and  al)le,  and  his  strength  and  ability  is  all  emploved  in 
building  the  I'nion. 

Griffith.  J-  ^I-,  Wilbur,  Wash. — County  Organizer  of  his 
county  :  takes  great  interest  in  his  work. 

Kli:.\1(;akd,  J.  S.,  i\ilman,  Wash. — Secretarv  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Pacific  Farjiicrs'  Union,  the  organ  of  the  North- 
west ;  President  of  his  County  Cnion,  and  a  prosperous  fariner. 

McCrosky,  R.  C,  Garfield,  Wash. — Ex-State  Senator;  has 
served  on  some  important  committees  in  the  Farmers'  Union ;  an 
intelligent  and  prosperous  farmer. 

Reid.  J.  'SI.,  Pullman,  Wash. — Was  elected  President  of  the 
Pullman  local  shortly  after  joining  the  L'nion,  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  part  in  furthering  the  interests  of  the  organiza- 
tion in  the  Northwest.  The  work  of  arranging  for  the  State 
Convention  in  Pullman  in  1908  was  largely  in  his  hands.  At  that 
meeting  he  was  placed  on  the  Executive  Committee  and  Terminal 
Warehouse  Committee,  being  made  chairman  of  each.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1908,  the  Whitman  County  Union  met  at  Pullman,  and 
by  request  delegates  were  present  from  all  over  the  State.  At 
this  meeting  a  company  was  organized  to  publish  an  official  paper 
for  the  Union,  and  he  was  elected  President-Manager.  The  first 
issue  of  the  Pacific  Farmers'  i'nion  consisted  of  5.000  copies, 
and  the  paper  has  grown  steadily  in  circulation,  influence  and 
value  to  the  farmers  of  the  State.  Under  the  wise  and  able  guid- 
ance of  the  President-.Manager  it  is  a  potent  factor  for  the  Union. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  securing  all  information  possible 
relative  to  terminal  warehouses  at  Portland  and  .\storia,  Oregon, 
and  \^ancouver,  Tacoma  and  Seattle.  Wash.,  in  the  formation  of 
Avarehouse  federation  embracing  the  States  of  \\\ishington.  Ore- 


414  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND  TIMES 

gon  and  Idaho.  His  work  has  been  directed  largely  along  that 
line,  both  personally  and  through  the  columns  of  his  paper.  He 
is  one  of  the  strong  and  useful  forces  in  the  great  and  growing 
Northwest,  a  section  which  has  drawn  to  it  many  able  and  strong 
men. 

Stimell,  D.  B.,  Waitsburg,  Wash. — Attended  the  National 
Convention  of  1907 ;  also  his  State  Convention,  1908 ;  has  been 
a  faithful  and  honest  worker  in  the  Farmers'  Union ;  is  a  pros- 
perous farmer. 

WooDS;,  Joel,  Waitsburg,  Wash. — A  prosperous  farmer  and  a 
loyal  member  of  the  Farmers'  Union.  He  attended  the  National 
Convention,  1907;  also  his  State  Convention,  1908, 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  415 


CHAPTER  XXXII, 


POINTS  FOUND  IN  THE  FURROW. 

LOYALTY  is  the  keynote  to  the  character  of  the  average 
farmer.  Some,  however,  have  more  of  the  key  and  less 
of  the  note.  I  know  thousands  of  men  who  will  stick  like 
a  burr  to  the  organization,  no  matter  what  happens.  They  come 
mighty  near  being  the  heroes  of  commonplace,  everyday  life,  who 
never  get  their  names  in  the  newspapers,  who  never  get  a  Car- 
negie medal,  but  who  do  things  in  this  world.  , 


We  have  a  lot  of  milk-and-water  brethren  in  the  Union.  A 
few  of  them  have  been  elected  to  office.  They  are  the  best  fel- 
lows you  ever  saw,  but  they  never  sprout  an  idea,  never  fight  a  fly, 
never  give  an  obnoxious  mule  a  slap  on  the  withers.  They  fill 
up  gaps  all  right,  and  you  need  not  fear  that  they  will  do  any 
harm.  Neither  do  they  accomplish  much  good.  I  often  think 
they  are  mere  cumberers  of  the  earth. 

I  have  begged,  I  have  plead,  I  have  prayed  in  local  and  in 
National  Conventions  for  the  delegates  to  elect  the  proper  men 
to  office.  The  same  qualities  of  voting  for  a  man  because  he  has 
an  oily  grin,  or  because  he  comes  from  your  part  of  the  country, 
of  which  I  have  already  spoken,  operate  to  boost  incompetents, 
and  sometimes  scheming  rascals,  into  office.  Until  we  get  rid 
of  this  vicious  habit,  all  of  our  enthusiasm  is  likely  to  be  spent 
in  vain. 


I  have  had  abundant,  grievous  and  amusing  experiences  with 
fusses  wilhin  the  Union.  Jealousy,  petty  personal  ambition  and 
general  cussedness  are  here  and  in  every  other  big  organization. 
Some  men  are  so  built  that  unless  you  do  things  their  way  you 
have  got  a  squabble  on  your  hands.  We  must  cultivate  a  spirit 
of  breadth  and  tolerance.  Your  neighbor's  conviction  is  fre- 
quently as  good  as  your  own,  and  you  must  give  him  the  credit 
for  having  arrived  at  it  honestly.  Brotherhood  is  not  promoted 
by  bickering  and  pee-wee  fault-finding. 


416  MISSION,    HISTORY   AND   TIMES 

Two  classes  of  rascals  whom  I  might  not  have  made  suffi- 
ciently clear  in  previous  chapters  are  the  leaders  who  will  sell  out 
straight,  and  those  who  stay  in.  reasoning  that  they  can  thus 
make  a  living  for  their  families.  Of  the  two,  I  prefer  the  man 
Avho,  like  Judas,  gets  his  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  and  either  goes 
off  and  hangs  himself,  or  at  least  removes  his  carcass  from  the 
scene  of  operations.  The  other  cheap  serpent  will  eat  away  into 
the  organization  while  professing  friendship.  He  is  like  the 
snake  that  the  foolish  old  man  took  in  out  of  the  cold  and  warmed 
in  his  bosom.  It  finally  turned  and  shot  its  fangs  into  him.  That 
is  what  some  of  our  little  moles  on  the  inside  would  do  and  have 
done. 

Farmer,  watch  out  for  the  man  who  swears  by  all  the  heavenly 
and  heathen  gods  that  he  is  your  friend.  Deeds,  not  words,  are 
what  count.  The  Good  Book  says,  "By  their  fruits  shall  ye 
know  them."  Thistles  cannot  bring  forth  figs,  or  vice  versa. 
When  a  gentleman  comes  to  you  with  this  spiel,  hold  him  off  at 
arm's  length  by  the  scruff  of  the  pants  and  look  him  over  well 
before  vou  become  his  victim. 


I  have  said  in  previous  chapters  that  it  was  necessary  for  the 
farmer  to  become  as  good  a  business  man  as  he  is  planter.  1 
might  have  added  that  he  is  giving  evidence  each  day  of  more 
nearly  appreciating  this  truth.  The  closest  examination  of  the 
history  of  the  Union  and  of  its  status  in  the  Southern  States  will 
show  the  tremendous  enterprises  in  which  it  is  engaged,  and  the 
substitution  of  business-like  methods  on  the  part  of  the  individual 
for  the  old  slipshod  lack  of  system.  Our  people  are  closely 
watchful  and  observant  and  I  look  for  their  achievements  in  this 
direction  to  increase  even  more  rapidly  as  they  convince  them- 
selves of  the  profit  in  such  ])rocedure. 

I  hardly  think  there  will  be  an  industrial  revolution,  for  which 
opinion  I  will  offer  two  reasons  : 

First :  When  the  farmers  and  laborers  convince  the  word 
that  they  know  their  strength  and  their  rights,  and  arc  deter- 
mined to  exert  the  one  to  secure  the  other,  the  world  will  sit  back 
with  a  graceful  and  resigned  bow,  and  say,  "Why,  certainlv,  gen- 
tlemen, why  didn't  you  say  so  earlier?  Of  course  it's  yours,  and 
you  may  have  it.  We've  only  been  keeping  it  for  you  all  these 
years  anyhow." 

The  second  reason:     The  farmer  is  ra])i(lly  learning  if  he  will 


OF    THE    farmers'    UNION.  417 

go  after  his  wants  in  tlic  rij^ht  way — that  is,  the  determined  and 
intclH;;ent  way — he  will  get  the  prize  with  little  trouble.  The 
other  fellow  is  sensible  enough  to  know  he  is  outclassed — in  num- 
bers and  strength.  Neither  has  he  any  craving  to  risk  the  safety 
of  his  projierty  or  tlic  radical  lowering  of  its  value. 

Get  your  eye  glued  on  the  fellow  who  raves  about  keeping  the 
I'nion  out  of  politics,  but  whose  main  motive  in  supj^ressing 
discussions  of  public  questions  in  lodge  meetings  is  the  fear  that 
the  party  on  which  some  of  his  kin-folks  depend  for  political 
favors  will  be  damaged.  There  are  plenty  of  this  kind,  and  it's 
a  good  plan  to  examine  into  their  motives  before  you  take  their 
ravings  too  seriously. 

Another  brand  it  will  do  to  watch  is  the  one  that  rares  and 
snorts  about  organizing  an  independent  party.  I  remember  one 
in  my  own  Farmers'  Alliance  local.  This  fellow  got  mad  clear 
through  because  we  would  not  organize  a  new  party  on  the  spot. 
In  a  day  or  two,  members  of  the  gang  that  controlled  politics 
in  the  county  saw  him.  bragged  on  his  ability,  told  him  they  had 
had  their  eyes  on  him  for  some  time,  begged  him  to  run  for 
ofifice. 

He  cooled  ofif  w^onderfully.  His  enthusiasm  about  "independ- 
ence" died  overnight.  He  got  the  office-seeking  fever.  He  ran 
for  Clerk  of  the  Court,  and  got  a  corporal's  guard  of  votes.  That 
experience  soured  him.  You  can't  get  him  to  join  anything  else, 
no  matter  what  it  is.  He  is  a  universal  howler;  can't  see  good  in 
a  single  thing,  and  knocks  every  movement  that  comes  unrler 
his  vision. 

There  are  two  or  three  felknvs  like  this  to  every  county  in  the 
United  States.  You  know  one  and  I  know  several.  They  will 
get  up  in  meeting,  tear  their  hair,  wave  their  arms  and  shout 
themselves  hoarse  about  the  "iniquities  of  the  gang ;  the  way 
such-and-such  a  ])arty  is  robbing  the  people."  They  will  call  on 
their  brethren,  with  tears  in  their  voices  and  sweat  on  their  fore- 
heads, to  "drive  the  rascals  out  of  the  temple."  and  purify  politics. 

In  a  day  or  two,  they  have  had  a  private  conference  with  some 
member  of  the  very  gang  they  were  tearing  to  pieces,  and  you  hear 
no  more  about  "independence  and  j^urity  in  politics." 

Business  men  who  succeed  do  not  go  upon  the  looks  of  a  man 
or  their  likes  and  dislikes  of  him,  but  upon  what  he  can  do.  Men 
who  are  not  liked,  if  thev  are  business  men.  are  sought  out  bv 


4:18  MISSION,    HISTORY  AND   TIMES 

business  houses,  banks  and  railroads,  because  of  their  business 
quaHfications,  and  placed  at  the  head  of  concerns  because  o-f  what 
they  can  do.  When  farmers  come  to  have  as  much  business  sense 
as  some  merchants,  bankers  and  railroad  folks,  the  farmers  will 
succeed.  Without  this  application  of  business  principles  of  the 
Union  there  can  be  no  real  business-like  success.  Men  must  be 
elected  to  business  places  in  the  Union  because  of  business  quali- 
fications, and  not  because  some  set  of  men  like  them. 


One  of  the  most  amusing  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  sad  and  dis- 
gusting sights  is  to  see  two  old  politicians  in  the  Farmers'  Union 
washing  their  dirty  linen,  and  then  see  the  whole  bunch  line  up 
on  one  side  or  the  other.  I  have  known  local  Unions  to  go  dead 
because  the  fools  knew  no  better  than  to  take  sides  in  a  personal 
row  that  they  had  no  interest  in.  I  have  known  County  Unions 
ruined  for  the  same  reason. 


There  are  two  kinds  of  kickers.  One  is  an  honest  man.  The 
other  is  anything  but  honest.  The  first  speaks  out  in  meeting, 
and  speaks  plainly  when  he  thinks  things  are  not  going  as  they 
should.  He  does  not  insinuate,  but  gives  the  names  of  individ- 
uals.    He  gives  the  dates. 

The  second  fellow  never  stands  up  in  meeting  and  talks  out, 
but  does  a  great  deal  of  insinuating.  He  won't  call  anybody  by 
name,  and  tell  what  they  did  and  when  they  did  it. 

The  first  fellow  I  love.  We  could  not  get  along  without  him. 
No  honest  officer  fears  an  investigation  of  his  official  acts,  and 
does  not  object  to  criticism.  In  fact,  the  honest  critic  or  kicker 
helps  him.  Now,  in  the  second  class  there  are  hundreds  who 
never  had  an  honest  impulse  in  their  lives.  They  complain  of 
everything,  however  good  or  worthy.  Being  failures  themselves, 
they  despise  the  success  of  others. 


Brother  Farmer,  stop  telling  about  what  you  lost  in  the  Al- 
liance. In  the  first  place,  but  few  ever  lost  anything.  In  the 
second  place,  the  few  that  did  lose  have  no  one  to  blame  but 
themselves.  I  have  made  this  statement  many  times  in  the 
presence  of  big  crowds,  and  no  one  ever  took  me  to  task  for  say- 
ing it.  Let  me  be  very  plain,  and  tell  you  exactly  what  I  am  talk- 
ing about.  In  spite  of  everything  that  can  be  done ;  after  all  the 
begging,  pleading,  exhorting  and  praying  for  you  to  do  better, 
you  are  content  to  vote  for  the  fellow  to  look  after  your  business 


OF   THE    farmers'    UNION.  419 

who  is  the  most  social,  clever,  hail-fellow-well-met,  hand-shaking 
old  hypocrite  that  can  be  found — the  fellow  that  brags  on  you 
and  cusses  the  other  fellow — the  fellow  who  is  sympathetic  in 
his  talk,  and  in  his  manner,  and  who  caused  you  to  shed  tears. 
In  the  days  of  the  Alliance  the  brethren  bought  a  warehouse  in  my 
county,  and  they  elected  the  cleverest  fellow  I  ever  saw  as  man- 
ager. He  knew  just  how  to  shake  hands  right.  He  knew  how  to 
"set  'em  up"  to  soda  water,  lemonade,  or  anything  else  that  suited 
your  taste.  I  tell  you,  he  was  the  cleverest  fellow  I  ever  saw. 
Now,  that  fellow  stole  everything  he  could  get  his  hands  on  and 
left  the  State.  Of  course  his  bondsmen  had  several  thousand 
dollars  to  pay.  Now,  they  were  to  blame,  for  there  was  not  a 
single  one  of  them  but  who  was  fairly  intelligent,  and  knew  to 
start  with  that  that  fellow  was  a  grand  rascal. 

Now,  Brother  Farmer,  it  has  been  said  that  you  are  a  past 
master  in  one  thing — and  I  am  afraid  that  it  is  partly  true — that 
is  in  getting  a  man  to  look  after  your  business  who  is  too  igno- 
rant to  get  in  out  of  a  shower  of  rain,  'or  in  getting  the  grandest 
rascal  in  the  country. 

Say,  Brother  Farmer,  I  want  to  ask  you  one  question  about 
one  thing,  and  I  believe  you  will  be  honest  and  tell  the  truth. 
Now,  here  she  comes : 

Don't  it  hurt  you  a  whole  lot  more  for  you  to  thin1<  that  your 
brother  farmer  is  getting  a  few  pennies  of  your  hard-earned  dol- 
lars, than  it  does  for  you  to  know  that  the  other  fellow  is  getting 
hundreds?    Now,  honest,  is  this  not  so? 

Farmers  who  are  not  members,  strangers,  friends  or  enemies, 
should  not  take  too  seriously  every  fool  resolution  passed  by  a 
Farmers'  Union  Convention.  It  is  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world 
to  get  one  of  these  reform-the-universe-while-you-wait  affairs 
through  the  average  gathering.  Some  pipe-dream  can  always 
command  enough  fool  friends  to  lose  their  heads  and  support  the 
wildest  sort  of  proposition.  If  the  resolution  is  sufficientlv  harm- 
less, I  believe  in  letting  them  have  their  way  as  a  means  of  blow- 
ing off  steam,  just  as  you  often  promise  a  fretful  child  the  moon 
as  the  only  way  to  get  rid  of  him. 


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